Factors leading to the problem of increased oily scalp. Methods of getting rid of it: special shampoos, masks, medical therapy. Oily scalp is a problem that occurs against the background of unhealthy activity of the sebaceous glands. It causes a lot of trouble, since it affects the condition of the hair - it quickly becomes dirty and does not look the best. However, this is only the outer side of the issue. Excessive activity of the sebaceous glands is a problem, as a rule, caused by disturbances in internal processes in the body. That is why it is very important, when it occurs, to fight not only with external manifestations, choosing special cleansing agents, but also to treat the internal factors that provoke it.
The main causes of oily scalp
The reasons why the normal work of the sebaceous glands is disrupted are very diverse, but in most situations the matter lies in the following:
- Hormonal changes … In view of this circumstance, it is not surprising that very oily scalp is often the lot of girls and guys during puberty. As the period of hormonal changes passes, the activity of the glands decreases and the problem disappears by itself. In addition, women often suffer from this problem, because various hormonal surges constantly occur in the female body. The chance of developing a problem during pregnancy is especially great. At risk are women who prefer to use contraceptive pills to protect themselves - these drugs affect hormonal levels. However, the "jumping" of hormones is not the only factor provoking the malfunctioning of the sebaceous glands.
- Stress … Many of us underestimate its effects, but it can affect not only the health of the scalp, but also the body as a whole, and this effect will, of course, be negative. If you regularly lack sleep, work a lot, eat poorly, etc., most likely, the problem of oily scalp can be solved by simply adjusting the regimen. Everything becomes more complicated if stress is caused by one or another tragic circumstance, in this case you cannot do without the help of a psychologist. However, it is imperative to solve the problem with stress, because, we repeat, unkempt hair is not the main problem that depression leads to, it gradually destroys the body on all fronts.
- Metabolic disease … Disruptions in metabolism caused by various factors have a strong impact on the appearance of the skin. This is the body's way of showing that "something has broken inside." In the event that the scalp has become oily due to metabolic problems, the skin of the face is likely to also be oily and problematic. Of course, this situation requires careful diagnosis and treatment under the supervision of a competent specialist.
- Fungal infection of the epidermis … Another serious reason that negatively affects the functioning of the sebaceous glands and requires serious medical intervention. In this situation, a number of unpleasant symptoms are added to the greasy hair - pain, burning, itching sensation. In addition, dandruff often appears, and there is an increased loss of hairs.
- Wrong selection of cosmetics … Another factor that can lead to oily scalp. We are accustomed to taking care of the face skin correctly, but not very good for the scalp. Adequate care methods must be selected. If your hair is prone to oily or normal type, you should not even use a product for dry curls once. Thus, you make yourself problems from scratch.
Finally, it should be said that there are a number of risk factors that increase the likelihood of failures in the functioning of the sebaceous glands. As a rule, they are associated with environmental conditions, including: poor environmental conditions in the place of residence, too hot climate, high humidity. That is why the problem of increased fat content of the scalp is often observed after a change of residence.
What to do if your scalp is oily
As you probably already guessed, the methods of treating oily skin on the scalp are largely determined by the cause that triggers the disruption of the sebaceous glands. However, while diagnostics and the search for an internal problem are being carried out, it is necessary to eliminate its external manifestations by means of special cosmetic products, medicines and folk remedies.
Shampoo for oily scalp
In most cases, your doctor will advise you to change your shampoo. Oily skin and oily hair, as we mentioned above, are always a special treatment. Products for dry hair, shampoos for normal hair and miracle remedies for all types of curls are not at all suitable here. It is necessary to purchase a shampoo, the label of which is written in black and white - "for the care of oily hair."
However, you should not blindly trust the inscriptions on the front side of the bottle, be sure to read the composition. It is good if it contains zinc pyrithione and selenium sulfide, it is bad if it contains any oils (except for essential oils).
Pay attention mainly to professional cleaners and remedies, but remember that good products can also be found in the mass market. In general, it is best to ask a doctor for recommendations on the choice of shampoo and other care products indicating specific options, because every day new, more progressive and effective "bottles" are released. However, if the doctor did not advise anything specific, you can use the recommendations of this article.
Here are some popular shampoos today that have received a lot of positive feedback:
- Desert Essence, Lemon Tea Tree … A professional and not cheap remedy, which, however, boasts not only the ability to cleanse oily scalp, but also the most natural composition. However, it should be borne in mind that natural remedies, in the absence of chemistry, do not foam too well, this increases their consumption.
- Nature Siberica "Volume and Balance" and Shauma "7 Herbs" … These are affordable shampoos that do not differ exclusively in natural composition, but demonstrate good effectiveness - they not only cleanse oily skin, but also give hair volume and shine. In addition, it should be noted that Shauma is not suitable for those with sensitive skin and prone to allergies.
- Apivita Propoline with nettle and honey … A very interesting and somewhat unique professional remedy is shampoo for oily scalp and dry hair. The product belongs to the professional series, has 85% natural composition, and it should be noted that it not only degreases the skin, but has a positive effect on the functioning of the sebaceous glands, and also has a smoothing effect, makes hair soft and shiny.
- Redken, Clean Brew … Shampoo created especially for the strong half of humanity with a deep cleansing effect. Refers to professional products. Decent and affordable analogue - "Fat Control" from Clear Vita ABE.
- Syoss Anti-Grease … This is a dry shampoo that cleans up oily hair well. It will be a suitable solution for those who are always pressed for time.
By the way, not only the means with which you wash your hair is of great importance, but also how you do it. There are a number of recommendations that must be followed when washing oily hair:
- Hair should be washed every 3-4 days.… Frequent washing of hair stimulates the work of the sebaceous glands, this is due to the fact that when the sebum is washed off, the body intensively forms it again, since one of its functions is to protect the skin from the pathogenic effects of pathogenic organisms.
- Don't wash your hair before bed.… At night, the sebaceous glands are more active, which means that the restoration of the lost "accumulations" will be more intense.
- Use room temperature water … Cold water can damage hair, while hot water increases the activity of the sebaceous glands.
- Don't rinse off the shampoo right away … The detergent needs to be held on the hair for 3-5 minutes for a reliable cleansing. As for the conditioner-conditioner, if you need it, it should, of course, also belong to the “for oily hair” series.
Masks for oily scalp
An additional remedy for improving the condition of the scalp can be a mask for oily hair. Let's take a look at some of them:
- Guam talasso hair … Professional mask-shampoo from an Italian company. The composition consists mainly of extracts of various plants and essential oils. Perfectly fights hair grease, and at the same time saturates the strands with vitamins and significantly improves the appearance.
- Urtinol dikson … A professional product that helps not only cleanse oily scalp, but also significantly improve hair. It will also provide excellent prevention of hair loss and dandruff. A mask is produced in ampoules, which is not very convenient, but the effect is worth it.
- Biomed mask for oily hair … Another Italian remedy with several active ingredients. Natural lemon extract restores the normal functioning of the glands, an “ingredient” called iricalmin soothes and refreshes the skin, and aloe extract makes hair plump and shiny.
- L'Oreal Elseve, 3 Valuable Clays … An affordable clay-based product that cleanses the skin and hair well and gives noticeable volume. However, many complain about the not too pleasant smell of the product.
The choice of a cosmetic product is always a very individual moment, and therefore there is no guarantee that the shampoo and / or mask that suits hundreds of girls will suit you. Unfortunately, in order to find your own remedy, you sometimes need to sort out a lot of options.
Treatment of oily scalp with medications
Medications for the treatment of oily scalp are usually prescribed after determining the cause that led to the development of the disease.
In the event that the problem is associated with hormonal changes, hormonal ointments are prescribed: Hydrocortisone, Celestoderm, Akriderm. When using them, it is important to follow the doctor's recommendations, they cannot be used for a long time, they are usually prescribed by a course with interruptions.
If the cause of the problem is stress and the person is not able to cope with it on their own, sedatives are prescribed: Novopassit, Diazepam, Pantokrin, Motherwort, Valerian. The choice of drug depends on the stress level of the patient.
If the work of the sebaceous glands is impaired due to fungal infection of the epidermis, special drugs are chosen for its treatment, such as Bifonazole, Lamisil, Sulsen's Paste.
The situation is more complicated if the cause of the disease is a malfunction in the metabolism. In this case, complex treatment is prescribed, a special diet, and therapy takes a lot of time.
Oily scalp care with folk remedies
Often they try to fight with oily scalp with the help of folk remedies, and this kind of therapy has a good effect. Given that the best beauty products are created from natural ingredients, why not make them yourself at home? In most cases, this approach is no less effective, but much more economical - in terms of cash costs, but it, of course, on the contrary, takes time.
If you have time and want to save money, you can safely use one of these instead of a professional mask:
- Clay Mustard Mask … Dissolve dry clay (3 tablespoons) in warm water (4 tablespoons) - you can buy it at the pharmacy, and add dry mustard (2 tablespoons), honey and lemon juice (one teaspoon each). Mix all the ingredients thoroughly to achieve uniformity, apply the product to hair for 30-40 minutes. This mask will not only help fight the oily scalp, but will also stimulate hair growth. Mustard masks are effective, but not suitable for everyone: if you feel discomfort after application, wash off the product immediately.
- "Pure" clay … If the previous mask does not suit you, try to prepare the mixture purely on clay: for this, dissolve the dry powder in mineral water until it becomes thick sour cream and apply it to your hair for half an hour. Clay, like mustard, is one of the best remedies for oily scalp. Of course, in tandem, the means work more efficiently, but with separate use it will not be of little use.
- Kefir mask with essential oils … This is a good healing mask, which is made not only by amateurs, but also by professionals. It is prepared like this: essential oils - bergamot, rosemary and citrus are dissolved in a glass of kefir, the mixture is carefully rubbed into the scalp and washed off after half an hour.
- Honey mask … The problems of oily scalp and hair loss are generally closely related. The honey mask will not only eliminate the increased fat content, but also strengthen the hair follicles. It is done as follows: aloe juice (1 tablespoon), lemon juice (1 teaspoon) and garlic gruel (1 clove) are added to melted honey (2 tablespoons). The mask is mixed until smooth and applied to the hair for half an hour. Pay attention to the sensations: garlic can cause a burning sensation, if it is too strong, wash off the mask and do not add this "ingredient" next time.
- Egg mask … A very simple mixture that perfectly eliminates the problem of overactivity of the sebaceous glands. It is necessary to beat the eggs (2 pieces) into a foam, add water and alcohol (1 teaspoon each) to them, and the product can already be applied to the hair. Wear the mask for no more than 30 minutes.
Note that for extra effectiveness, the head should be wrapped first in plastic and then in a towel after applying the mask.
It is worth noting that traditional medicine for oily hair also recommends rinsing with decoctions of various herbs - plantain, birch, mint, sage, St. John's wort. You can use only one type of herbs, you can use several, keeping the following proportions - 1 tablespoon of dry herb to 1 cup of boiling water. What to do if the scalp is oily - watch the video:
Oily scalp is an unpleasant problem, but it can be quickly resolved with complex therapy. Such therapy includes going to a doctor, determining the cause that led to the increased activity of the sebaceous glands, prescribing medications (if necessary) and the correct cosmetics for hair care.
