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Oily Hair: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Last Updated: Oct 31, 2019

What is Oily Hair?

Oily Hair is also called as fatty, greasy, oiled, oleaginous, smeary. Greasy hair is a hair condition which is common in humans, one of four main types of hair conditioning normal, greasy, dry and greasy dry. It is primarily caused by build-up of the natural secretion from the sebaceous glands in the scalp and is characterised by the continuous development of natural grease on the scalp.A chronic condition of greasy hair may often accompany chronic greasy skin conditions on the face and body and oily skin and acne.Certain factors can cause oily hair, but your personal care routine may also be to blame. Excess scrubbing during shampooing can irritate the scalp, causing more oil, as well as too many washes. Your hair should never be washed more than once a day.

If you have an oily scalp, don’t brush your hair too much, as this will distribute the grease throughout your strands. You may also consider making over your hair care cabinet with styling products that don’t contain lotions and creams.Aside from proper care, diligence in the application of the right oily hair remedies and products also plays an important role. Some believe that frequent shampooing will stimulate the sebum production, but this has no basis in fact; the opposite is true. Greasy hair should be washed often, i.e. daily if necessary. Every shampoo treatment removes almost all sebum from the sebaceous glands. Each shampooing removes a little more sebum (fat) providing the shampoo is massaged into the scalp. The result is clear: Proper care will prevent oily hair

How is the treatment done?

If regular shampooing doesn’t control oily hair, it may be time to consider other causes. This is especially the case if excess oil is accompanied by dandruff flakes. Seborrheic dermatitis can cause oily hair because of high sebum production. This condition is characterized by yellow, oily patches on the scalp. The oil quickly makes its way from the scalp to your strands. Psoriasis, caused by excess skin cell turnover, may also cause oily hair if your sebaceous glands overproduce sebum. Unlike seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis is red and silvery in appearance. Both conditions may appear as annoying dandruff at first, but is persistent despite shampooing. See your doctor if oily hair is accompanied by any of these signs.

Fortunately there are solutions for how to treat oily hair. A dermatologist will help in serious cases –prescribed medications contain all- trans- retinoic acid or ATRA for short (a vitamin A related substance), which regulates the sebaceous gland secretions. However, in most cases special hair care products will make an effective oily hair treatment. These products will restore the balanced production of oily substances from the sebaceous glands. Seaweed or herbs like horsetail, rosemary, coltsfoot, nettles, chamomile and salvia regulate the sebum production and help get rid of oily hair. Medicinal tar shampoos may also regulate the sebum secretion. Please note: Avoid products containing proteins or lipid-replenishing substances such as oils or silicon! They only make a difficult situation worse by weighing the hair down and making it even oilier than before.

Who is eligible for the treatment?

Increased hormones during puberty are often to blame for excess oil in the hair. Considering this fact, dealing with oily hair during adulthood may be confusing. However, other types of hormone fluctuations can cause oily hair as an adult. Birth control pills are a leading cause in women, as well as pregnancy. Hormonal issues in both men and women can lead to excess sebum production in the scalp.Excessive carbohydrate, fat and starch consumption can increase the likelihood of developing greasy hair and also poor personal hygiene and not washing the hair for a long duration will lead to a buildup of sebum in the hair follicles.Hair conditioners can decrease the likelihood of developing greasy hair after shampooing.

Who is not eligible for the treatment?

The common symptoms of oily hair include ,Excess sebum production which makes the hair heavy, weak and difficult to manage.Formation of greasy dandruff which sticks to the sebum forming a layer on the scalp.Itchiness of the scalp.Hair loss or progressive thinning of hairSo, it is necessary to avoid the proliferation of sebum into scalp to prevent the damages to the hair and scalp due to the growth of bacteria and fungi. The excessive sebum blocks the hair follicle and disturbs the blood circulation, resulting in weak hair.If you do not face this, then you do not have oily hair.

Are there any side effects?

The hair cells are prone to permanent damage as the chemicals used in the treatment are very strong. This can be injurious as often the chemicals seeps into the body through the scalp. It may also prevent the growth of healthy hair as it damages the roots of the hair permanently.n individual is vulnerable to allergic reactions if the product used is inappropriate and the chemicals in the product does not suit their hair and scalp. In some cases, if the chemicals come in contact with the skin and scalp, it can also cause rashes. Hence, it is advised to do a preliminary test by applying the product on a small patch of the skin before using it.

With the dryness of the hair comes another subsequent problem, dandruff. Excessive aridity of the scalp causes the excess cells to fall off forming scaly flakes scattered throughout the scalp. It leaves the scalp very itchy and flaky. It can lead to hair-fall.If not chosen the right product during the treatment, It can can cause nausea and dizziness to an individual when inhaled. Moreover, the chemicals used in the process can also cause irritation to the eye.

What are the post-treatment guidelines?

Use shampoos with a translucent appearance and avoid creamy shampoos.Every now and then, you should remove excessive oil (sebum) from your hair and scalp using a healing earth cure package. You can purchase healing earth in drug and chemists’ stores. Healing earth absorbs and binds large amounts of oily substances and is therefore an ideal product for oily hair.Wash your hair early in the day. Sebaceous glands work particularly hard at night.

Greasy hair irritates the scalp and renders it particularly sensitive. You should avoid adding more stress and therefore avoid exposing your hair to hot water and from using the hair dryer too frequently. Other unnecessary irritations are tight braids, tight head gear or hats.Use only lukewarm water. Hot water stimulates the sebum production.Do not use a hair brush. Brushing will only distribute the sebum all through your hair from the roots to their ends. Combing your hair will be sufficient.Do not use rinsing agents. Oily hair needs less conditioning than dry hair. The number one rule is, ‘Less is more!’.

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How long does it take to recover?

It usually depends on the kind of treatment opted for.Each treatment has different period for recovery from oily hair. Also, it is advisable to maintain a balanced diet with the right type of food and in the correct quantity.Excessive hair wash can also cause hair to be sticky.Hence ,take proper care of the hair referring to the correct treatment.

What is the price of the treatment in India?

The cost depends upon the treatment used.If it is the shampoo it can range from RS.200 to Es.700.

Are the results of the treatment permanent?

The results cannot be 100% permanent as the factors which cause oily hair will depend on how well the person maintains it.Factors causing it will be present.But the person taking the treatment has to make sure ,he continues to take proper care of hair even after treatment is completed in the manner as prescribed.

References

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Written ByDr. Shaurya Rohatgi MD - Dermatology , Venereology & Leprosy,MBBSDermatology
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Reviewed ByDr. Bhupindera Jaswant SinghMD - Consultant PhysicianGeneral Physician
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