Combating an Oily Scalp
An oily scalp is something most of us have been plagued with at some point – which is no surprise given that the scalp is one of the areas with the most sebaceous glands. (There are roughly 200-500 of them in every cm2 of scalp-skin.) Not only does excess oil result in lank hair and greasy roots, it can also cause scalp acne at the hairline. So why does it happen?
What causes an oily scalp?
An oily scalp can sometimes be the result of over-washing – where your scalp and hair are constantly being stripped of their natural oils, so your scalp-skin overcompensates by producing more oil as a result. The greasier your hair gets, the more you end up washing it, and so you’re caught in a vicious circle.
Excess oil can also be a hormonal issue, such as puberty, menstruation or pregnancy – or even increased stress levels (which causes an increase in the hormone cortisol, leading to inflammation that makes your sebaceous glands go into overdrive).
How to Treat an Oily Scalp
So how can you treat an oily scalp? First things first: cut down the amount of times you wash your hair per week. Yes, it’s not going to be pleasant and things will get worse before they get better, but stay strong. (Wear a hat if you have to!) Your perseverance will pay off, and soon your scalp will settle and regulate the amount of oil it produces. If your scalp feels greasy after a workout, apply a few drops of MONPURE’s Hydrate and Soothe Scalp Serum through your roots and massage in. It contains witch hazel, a natural toner, which works to tighten pores and dry out the oil sweat produces.
When it comes to the best oily scalp treatment, you probably need to switch your shampoo. If you’re using a shampoo with sulphates, these can dry the scalp and hair and have a similar effect to over-washing (i.e. making your scalp oilier in the long-run). Choose a gentle shampoo such as MONPURE’s Strengthening Silk Protein Shampoo, which instead of harsh sulphates, contains coconut-derived cleansing agents together with hydrating aloe vera and strengthening vegan silk peptides. Follow it up with our Strengthening Essence-Conditioner, which has a lightweight texture that can be used on the scalp without weighing down the hair, replenishing the scalp-skin and balancing oil levels with the same silk peptides, together with argan oil and pro vitamin B5.
An oily scalp and strands might be the result of product build-up, so use the Clarifying Scalp Scrub once a week, to lift away any lingering debris with biodegradable jojoba beads (which are non-abrasive but sweep away gunk with ease) together with nourishing shea butter.
Stress and an Oily Scalp
If your scalp has suddenly become very oily of late, it could be due to stress. According to our resident dermatologist Dr Sue Ann Chan, “stress can wreak havoc with our hormones, sending our body’s normal processes into a tailspin and our skin’s oil glands haywire. This gives our hair a greasy appearance and can also lead to seborrhoeic dermatitis, which manifests itself red, irritated and scaly skin – and often leads to dandruff.”
If you have serious concerns with regards to your oily scalp and dandruff, it would be advisable to seek advice from a dermatologist to obtain appropriate diagnosis and medical treatment, preferably at an earlier stage, before the issue becomes advanced.
Have a question about your oily scalp? Email us at info@monpure.com and our team of experts will get back to you.
