suddenly oily hair that won't correct

[Danavee]

This discussion is related to suddenly oily hair that won't correct.


Question to the Dr.  

Could this be overactive sebaceous glands?  I have had sebaceous cysts in the past.  Could excessive sweating cause this to happen.  Sweating dries out the skin, therefore causing the glands to produce more oil to compensate for the loss?  When your stressed, you sweat.  During menopause, you sweat.  In the summer, you sweat.  If your febrile, you sweat.

I am a 38 year old female and also started experiencing a heavy oily area around the crown of my head about 3 1/2 weeks ago.  I asked my Dr. and  he acted as if I was crazy.  He suggested I use Neutrogena shampoo once a week, which I started yesterday.  To add to the other comments....I am extremely stressed (thought that was it).  I am going through peri-menopause.  I have not changed shampoos in 15 years (I alternate head and shoulders and Pantene).  I have never had any problems with oily skin or oily hair ever.  I wash my hair daily and condition.  I have not changed my daily regimen in 2 years

One thing I have tried was applied Shower to Shower powder to my hair before going to bed and washed out in the morning (not the sexiest looking thing at night but it helps).  It drastically reduced the oil, but came back 2 days later.  The only thing I worry about is clogging the glands that are producing the oil, so I don't do it daily...maybe once a week.  I will try the Irish Spring soap, that will not clog the glands...just dry out the hair.  Another suggestion I haven't tried was go to a good hair dresser who has shampoos that change the PH balance of your hair (If this goes on another month I will try this.  It's kinda drastic.)

[Jaxagirl65]

I have only recently had the very same problem. Woke one morning last week & noticed my hair seemed a little oily just at the top of the crown but ignored it.

Woke the very next morning, kaboom, oily/greasy hair right at the top on the crown.
It looks horrible & my normally soft shiny hair has gone.

I'm convinced it is due to a hormone imbalance (even if no one is noticing those particular symptoms!) The reason I say this is, I am approx. 25 days overdue for my period. (No, I'm not pregnant, lol.)

Hormone imbalance hadn't even occurred to me until someone mentioned it, & now I've worked out being overdue & the greasy crown - it all adds up.

Am going to go with the Listering suggestion & see if it works for me, but along with that, I'm also going to use something like a Promensil / Remifemin to straighten out my hormones a bit. (just in case!)

[greasyhairoutofnowhere]

Jaxagirl65,  I am dealing with this now for the first time.  I have an appt with a dermatologist tomorrow, but curious what you discovered and what helped you.

[smack667]

I am so glad I found this forum! I have been having this issue for months now. I have been using Aveda products, in an attempt to go more "natural", so I know Pantene is not the culprit. Every time I mention my problem to a hairdresser, she tells me to use a clarifying shampoo once a week, but the results are always short-lived. I tried the clarifying shampoo/listerine trick yesterday and it actually worked! Thank you!

I am 41 years old and I suspect my problem is hormonal. The greasy build-up is always concentrated on the left side of my head, and it seems to get worse about a week before my period. Has anyone else noticed this sort of timing?

Anyway, I am so grateful for this forum, because now I know I am not crazy. Thank you again!

[greasyhairoutofnowhere]

smack667, did you ever get a solution to your hair issue?  I am dealing with this now for the first time at 38 years old. I am freaking out a bit.

[Harleyboxer]

I am going through this exact scenario!  I woke up one day last week and had this problem when I got out of the shower.  I knew it felt differently, but when I blew dry it, it was horrible (greasy, waxy).  I thought perhaps I'd used too much product.

Each day it has grown progressively worse and I'm using no product aside from the shampoo/conditioner (also Pantene!) that I've always used and no other changes to routine other than I think my menstral cycle is about to return as my milk has significantly decreased from nursing my 9 mo. old.  I am figuring it has something to do with hormones, however I generally  have breaking out of skin, bloating, and so on but none of those symptoms are present (at least not yet).  So perhaps the fungus or gland issue people have been suggesting?

I, too, had contacted my hairstylist and she too was baffled but suggested I get with my Dermatologist for an answer.  I may do that if these suggestions do not work.  

I will try the suggestions here and hope for the best!

Thanks SOOO much for sharing everyone- I was beginning to think I was going crazy (I know my husband was too!!).

[deb614]

Hello everyone-i had this exact problem being described after having completely normal hair the rest of my life. I tried everything possible and finally went to my dermatologist who gave me ciclopirox shampoo 1% -its prescription (i think its an antifungal shampoo maybe), and i use that now-no conditioner and works!!! Thank G-d!! You have to wash your hair with it, leave it in for 3 mins and then wash out. If i switch to another shampoo, like if i go away and forget to bring it, i am in trouble as my hair goes back to its difficult disgusting self-i really hope this helps everyone as much as it helped me!!!!! I don't know if itll work for everyone-just rly wanted to tell you all abt it cuz i know what its like to have this problem and not know what to do or where to turn.

[zoe111534]

I have been having the same problem. I am a female in my late 30's. The only time I ever get greasy hair is right before my period and that's only for a day or two. Rest of the time I have really nice looking hair.
For no reason about three weeks ago,  it got really oily looking at the roots. Even when I washed it, I could see it was clumping and wasn't going to dry nice.
I thought it was my shampoo and changed it several times. Two expensive shampoos for coloured hair. Then a pharmacy brand. Then back to a supermarket shampoo I've used before and always suited my hair (I stopped using it because it strips the colour out). None of them worked. Getting desperate!
This is three weeks in a ponytail. Hair looking horrible, couldn't stand the greasy feel of it. Seriously thinking of cutting it all off.
Found this post, thank goodness. I went out and bought that t-gel that seems to have worked for others.
Hair so disgusting it didn't even lather first time. Second time it did. Result! Hair looks normal again.
Does really stink, though, but don't care. So glad I found this page.

[hinazy]

I had the same issue. I tried the banking soda and apple cider vinegar solution and it worked for me the very first time but it created another issue. The greasiness was gone on the day i used to wash my hair but my hair used to get even more oily the next day of wash so much so that I needed a wash everyday. Also I could feel more tension/pressure on my head as if someone is pulling my hair.

I found another more natural solution. 10-15 mins before going for bath put 1 whole lemon juice on your scalp and massage slowly. Now boil water and dip a towel in it. Squeeze it so there is not too much water falling from it and put it around your hair for 2 mins, then dip in the hot water again. Do this 3 times and leave the towel on head for 10 mins and then wash your hair with your normal shampoo. It did wonders for me. It's all natural and it works great.

Hope it works for you all too.