Have you ever scratched your scalp and noticed white, waxy buildup under your nails? That's sebum mixed with dead skin cells. It's hard for shampoo alone to wash away your oily scalp issues. And issues like stress and weather can increase the scalp's sebum production, making you even oilier.
Sebum buildup appears as white or yellowish oily residue on the scalp. It sometimes produces flakes on the scalp and may be mistaken for dandruff, scalp eczema, or psoriasis.
Scratching your scalp with your nails can cause even MORE flaking and inflammation, and may result in small tears and scabs. Your scalp skin actually has more hair follicles and oil glands than any other part of your body, making it a lot more sensitive and susceptible to skin issues.
Washing your scalp with warm water is the first step in removing sebum clogs from your head. After that, use a gentle shampoo and massage your scalp with your fingertips. This aids in the removal of all hardened and dried sebum from the scalp. Sebum build-up occurs on the scalp rather than on the hair strands.
Sebum plugs on scalp vs face
Of course, the sebaceous glands on our scalp can also become clogged around the hair follicles, especially around the hairline. Excess sebum on the scalp can form a white or yellowish residue, but can also become flaky and resemble dandruff or eczema.
Poor hygiene
If your hair follicles are making too much sebum, you'll know because your hair and skin get greasy. This overproduction of oil can lead to problems like flakiness and acne. If you fail to treat sebum build-up, then you can experience more serious symptoms like hair loss.
Sebum buildup doesn't directly lead to hair loss. However, it does contribute to dandruff and a scalp imbalance in some people. scalp conditions to consider when it comes to hair fall are: Dandruff, often caused by Malassezia is a type of common fungi, or yeast, found on the skin.
When a person scratches an itchy scalp repeatedly or intensely, they can damage their skin and hair follicles. This damage can result in temporary hair loss, bleeding, and scabbing from the scratching. Once the person stops scratching, the hair will usually grow back.
Don't worry, it's nothing bad. It's called dandruff, which is just dead skin on your scalp.
Although scratching is a natural reaction to an itchy scalp, avoid doing so for optimal scalp and hair health. Obviously, once in a while is okay. But if you're experiencing long-term itchiness, it could be that something else is going on.
When your skin is scratched, it can actually trigger inflammation and an immune response. This causes the skin to become tender, and aless effective barrier protecting you from your environment. Constant scratching can lead to wounds and scabs, further damaging your scalp.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) notes that: If a person has oily hair, they may want to wash it daily. If a person has chemically treated hair, they may want to wash it less often. If a person has textured or coily hair, they may want to wash it once a week, or every other week.
Causes of Excess Sebum on the Scalp
Hypothyroidism: Low thyroid function can cause significant increases in testosterone, the hormone that directly influences sebum production. Metabolic disorders: Unhealthy fats (namely saturated or trans fats) can affect your metabolism and trigger an increase in sebum production.
4. Check Your Scalp Regularly to Detect Early Signs of Excess Sebum Oil Production. Scalp redness, scalp itchiness, and dry hair can all be early signs of a scalp condition caused by excessive oil production.
Sebum is a sticky oily substance the body produces in order to keep the skin moisturised. It's made up of a collection of fat molecules, waxes, and squalene.
Sebum production is under the control of sex hormones (androgens). The most active androgens are testosterone, 5-testosterone (DHT) and 5-androstene-317diol. These hormones and others are made by the sex glands (ovary in females, testis in males) and by the adrenal gland.
Mask with charcoal or clay once a week.
"Some of my favorite ways to unclog pores are by using either clay or charcoal masks which can help draw impurities, bacteria and sebum/oil out of pores," says Shari Marchbein, MD, dermatologist and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Clarifying Shampoo
Use a weekly clarifying product like Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo (about $5 at mass merchants or Amazon.com). It treats an overabundance of sebum, removes products sitting on the scalp, and unclogs the hair follicles.
An unhealthy scalp is characterized by dryness, flaking, itching or excessive build up. The hair may break easily, fall out or the texture of the hair may change. What steps can a client take to ensure a healthy scalp at home? Clients should cleanse their scalp regularly.