Does an oily scalp cause hair loss? The answer may surprise you

It’s easy to overlook what you can’t see, which is why so many of us ignore this particular area of our bodies that’s generally out of sight: our scalp. When we fail to care for our scalp, it can lead to an onset of issues that will certainly demand your attention.

Since the scalp is really just an extension of your face, it too is susceptible to irritation, itchiness, and oiliness. But there’s a more pressing problem that could arise when our scalp gets a little too greasy – hair loss.

Ahead, Daily Vanity will be sharing the causes of an oily scalp, how they lead to hair fall, and a treatment that can create a healthier environment in which your hair can flourish.

What causes an oily scalp?

Although sebum maintains your scalp’s moisture balance and protects your scalp, overactive sebaceous glands can produce too much sebum, leaving your hair and scalp looking greasy. This can pave the way for clogged pores, zits, and even hair loss.

If you’re wondering what causes an overproduction of sebum, here are three reasons you may have overlooked.

You’re washing your hair too often

Having greasy hair is a cyclical problem. You wash your hair often to keep it looking fresh and clean, but overwashing might end up producing more oil. That’s because you wind up stripping the protective oils, so your scalp gets the signal that it’s not producing enough oil and it kicks into overdrive.

You’re using the wrong haircare products

Most shampoos contain sudsy detergents called sulfates that can over-cleanse and dry out your scalp. Your scalp may feel squeaky-clean, but over time, your scalp could overproduce oil to make up for the dryness. To keep greasiness at bay, opt for a gentle, sulfate-free, pH-balanced formula that cleanses your strands without stripping your scalp of moisture.

Hormonal imbalance

Hormone imbalance occurs when you are overly stressed or anxious, and before or during that time of the month. This causes our levels of androgens and cortisol to spike, which prompts the sebaceous glands in your scalp to be stressed as well, sending them into overdrive and causing more sebum to be released.

Can an oily scalp lead to hair loss?

An oily scalp can definitely contribute to hair loss, but it’s often not the sole cause of it. Excess oils can trap and attract dirt, dandruff, and product buildup, which clogs pores, which stifles new hair growth. Since our hair is only as healthy and strong as the roots, caring for our scalp is just as important as caring for our skin.

This is something our writer Sabrina learned recently. Three months ago, she started noticing more hair strands on her floor and on her hairbrush. Her friends and former colleagues had also made a few comments about her hair fall.

Needless to say, it took a swing at her confidence, especially when people pointed it out and drew reference to her youth. In a bid to hide her hair loss, she would also switch up her hair parting to conceal any gaps. She also started using a hair loss shampoo and tonic, but she has yet to see any results from them.

If hair loss products have not worked out for you or if you seek a more effective solution, it’s high time you scheduled a regular scalp treatment at a reputable trichological establishment like TK TrichoKare.

An effective way to balance an oily scalp

One of the most popular, must-try scalp treatments around is TK TrichoKare’s award-winning Advanced Scalp Detox & Care Treatment. It even won “Best Anti-Ageing Hair Treatment” at our latest Daily Vanity’s Spa & Hair Awards, as voted by our editor and readers!

With that in mind, we signed Sabrina up for a session to see if it could help promote hair growth and prevent further hair loss. Here’s how it went.

The consultation

Every treatment session at TK TrichoKare starts with a consultation conducted by a trichologist or hair and scalp specialist, and Sabrina’s was no exception. This allowed the hair and scalp specialist to get a better understanding of her lifestyle habits so she could propose a suitable treatment plan.

During the consultation, the hair and scalp specialist also performed a detailed hair and scalp analysis using a handheld magnifying device. Pictures of her scalp were displayed on the monitor screen, so she could get a clearer look at her scalp condition.

Here’s what Sabrina had to say about the process:

“The hair and scalp specialist said there was a lot of sebum on my scalp due to frequent washing (I shampoo about seven to 10 times a week), and deduced that it could be the reason behind my hair loss. The rate of my hair growth was slower than that of my hair fall too, so she proposed a treatment that could get rid of excess sebum and boost hair growth.”

The treatment

“After the consultation, I was led to the treatment area, where the H2M (Hydrogen Mist) treatment began. The treatment steps will vary based on the individual’s hair and scalp condition. Using a suction tool, my hair and scalp specialist sopped up all the excess sebum from my scalp and then hydrated it with water.”

“Although a suction tip was used, I didn’t experience any pain or discomfort at all. In fact, it felt like a refreshing mist of cold water on my scalp. The suction tool was connected to a machine that shows you how much sebum is collected from your scalp. The cloudier it is, the worse your scalp condition is.”

“Next, the hair and scalp specialist concocted a dark grey clay masque to remove excess sebum and impurities from my scalp. She promptly parted my hair, and brushed the mixture generously all over my scalp. The masque felt minty and cooling, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was left to work its magic for the next 20 minutes.”

“When my 20 minutes were up, the hair and scalp specialist came back to wash it off with a gentle shampoo and conditioner. She also gave me a nice scalp massage, which felt very relaxing.”

“After blow-drying my hair, she brought out a small bottle of blue serum, which is a customised ampoule that helps to repair damaged cells and reduce inflammation.”

“She applied some of it on my scalp and used the OxyJet that pumped oxygen right into my scalp. This step helped promote blood circulation and better absorption of the serum. She also made sure to concentrate more on the areas with thinner hair.”

“Since my hair was a little damp from the ampoule, she blow-dried my hair once more and styled it.”

“The treatment wrapped up with 10 minutes of Photodynamic Therapy. This step enlists the help of infra-red technology to give cells a little nudge, promoting healing and boosting hair regeneration. While the red lights may look a little intimidating, it wasn’t too hot or uncomfortable.”

TK TrichoKare Advanced Scalp Detox & Care Treatment: The results

“I was brought back to the consultation room for a second scalp scan. From the images, my scalp looked cleaner, less congested, and less irritated compared to the initial scan. My hair felt lighter and more refreshed too.

The thorough treatment soaked up most of the grease, so my scalp didn’t look as oily as before. Some of my baby hairs that were previously buried under a layer of sebum could finally be seen again.

Of course, in order to see optimal results, I would have to go back for more sessions. But having witnessed these amazing results, it made me feel more hopeful of restoring my crowning glory.

I appreciated how patient and thorough my hair and scalp specialist was. She took the time to explain every step of the treatment and told me which areas of my scalp to focus on. Equipped with new information, I gained much more insight regarding my hair condition.”

About TK TrichoKare

Did you know that TK TrichoKare is the first trichological centre that provides customised European herbal hair remedies? That means you’ll get the perfect treatment made to suit your scalp and hair needs. All treatments offered at TK TrichoKare are stringently developed, tested, and validated by an in-house team of certified, professional trichologists who are experts in helping people with various hair issues.

Visit any TK TrichoKare outlet to show your scalp and tresses some much-needed TLC.

Address: See the full list of locations on the website
Contact: 6338 8680 (general hotline)
Opening hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon to Fri) | 10am – 7pm (Sat, Sun & PH)
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This article is brought to you by TK TrichoKare.