Vitamin B deficiency is the hidden reason why most of the people have an oily scalp. Vitamin B helps in regulating oil production in your scalp and further manages the pH levels. Not having enough vitamin B can cause excess production of sebum in your hair due to an imbalance in the pH levels.
1 "A sufficient intake of the B vitamins, particularly of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), can help combat greasy hair by regulating sebum production," the site explained. The good thing is, B6 is found in a lot of foods including beans, meat, poultry, fish, and some fruits and vegetables.
Vitamin B contributes to the production and regulation of sebum levels. A deficiency in this can cause your body to react by producing more oil. Foods that are high in Vitamin B include whole grains, eggs, meat and dairy.
Lack of vitamin B
If you have a vitamin deficiency, your skin and scalp can take a toll. In particular, the intake of B vitamins is directly linked with your level of sebum production. According to Lococo, “Vitamin B, such as biotin, affects panthenol and sebum levels, which helps hair stay healthy and shiny.
Hair and puberty
Did your hair also feel greasier too? These are both likely caused by the sex hormone testosterone, which is a major player in both female and male reproductive development. Testosterone is thought to increase the production of sebum which is the substance that can make both skin and hair feel oily.
Women's hair and the menstrual cycle
Hormonal changes during your period can be responsible for bad hair days (as well as bad mood days). Sebum production influenced by hormones like testosterone and estrogen can mean greasy skin and hair.
Sebum production is controlled by our hormones, so a sudden surge in scalp oil production could be down to hormonal changes. If you've recently gone through a major life event that's known to have an impact on your hormone levels, this may be having a knock-on effect on the amount of sebum your scalp is producing.
Persistently greasy hair may be due to an overproduction of sebum, which can sometimes indicate an underlying health condition. However, the way people wash and care for their hair, and the type of hair products they use, may be the cause.
You might not be washing your hair properly or you might be washing your hair too frequently, which would disrupt the production of sebum. Wax, cream, and oil-based hair care treatments can also make your hair greasier.
Causes of Excess Sebum on the Scalp
Metabolic disorders: Unhealthy fats (namely saturated or trans fats) can affect your metabolism and trigger an increase in sebum production. Digestive problems: Intestinal and liver problems can change the chemical makeup of sebum, making it less oily and more likely to flake.
If you wash your hair too often, you can trigger an overproduction of those natural oils, creating excess sebum production, and bang—you've got greasy hair the next day, or even just hours after rinsing.
Several commercially available test kits allow you to collect a sample for vitamin B12 testing at home. Some kits test only your vitamin B12 level. Others test B12 in combination with other vitamins, and there are at-home micronutrient test kits that include B12 in the panel.
A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause megaloblastic anemia. Megaloblasts are immature red blood cells that are larger than normal. They usually have an odd shape, too. When you have anemia, your red blood cells have trouble getting oxygen to your tissues and organs.
It may take a few weeks before your vitamin B12 levels and symptoms (such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy) start to improve. If you have hydroxocobalamin injections to boost your vitamin B12 levels at the start of treatment, the cyanocobalamin tablets may start to work within a few days.
Some people can develop a vitamin B12 deficiency as a result of not getting enough vitamin B12 from their diet. A diet that includes meat, fish and dairy products usually provides enough vitamin B12, but people who do not regularly eat these foods can become deficient.
Inadequate dietary intake
A balanced diet typically provides sufficient vitamin B12; however, strict vegans and people with a poor diet are at higher risk of developing a deficiency. Good sources of vitamin B12 include: Meat. Fish.
There are certain foods that also need a cut-down in case of vitamin B12 deficiency. “Some foods and drinks can interfere with vitamin B complex intake like alcohol, caffeine and processed foods, etc should be avoided completely,” Shah added.
The combination of hormonal imbalances leading to the over production of sebum and the thinning of our hair over time, is what causes the look of greasier hair in menopause.
The menopause is commonly associated with making hair dryer, but it can do the opposite and encourage scalps to produce more oil. Lucinda Ellery, hair loss consultant, told us that as you age, the texture of your hair may “start to swing between dry and oily, depending on your hormones”.