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.)

[greasebegone]

try the Nizoral and apple cider vinegar combo - Nizoral is cheap and u can get it at the pharmacy with the dandruff shampoos - the Apple Cider vinegar concoction can be made by taking a plastic water bottle and dumping out about half the water then add Apple Cider vinegar (about 1 cup) then replace bottle cap and shake well - you can then punch holes in the cap and leave it in your shower with your shampoos etc - hopefully you will see a big difference - I get to see my MD this thurs so I will know the results of the bloodwork and hopefully it's something that can be corrected.

[greasyhairoutofnowhere]

Hi greasebegone, what did your bloodwork show?  did they discover what the underlying cause was? i am dealing with this right now and I am going to try the listerine, apple cider vinegar, and tea tree oil tonight. I am desperate.

[erinsaywhat]

I just have to say - THANK YOU SO MUCH.  I have had this problem for OVER a year.  One day, I woke up and I had an extremely greasy patch on the right side of my head.  Everyone seemed to say it was on their crown, has anyone has a problem with just one side of their head?

But I finally tried the listerine and SUAVE last night, and so far so good!  The right side of my head is just like the rest of my head.  The parts I used the listerine on are ever more smoothe and hydrated.  

I have tried everything in the past. Expensive clarifying shampoos, conditioners, the whole bit. Thank God I found this post.  You saved my hair! Thank you!

[greasebegone]

hi there - I started having this exact same problem in May - that's when I first noticed it. it started off gradual and then got worse, to the point where nothing seems to work. I had some success with a small bit of Nizoral anti-fungal shampoo twice a week - it seemed to work - I am using a few drops and massaging it right into my scalp and behind my ears, down the sides of my face, and on the back of my neck. I let it sit there for a few minutes then wash it out and use my regular shampoo and conditioner. I really do t know what's going on with my scalp as I've always always had beautiful thick healthy hair, but I'm getting tested by my MD to look at whether I have a high dose of androgen in my body - also see if my hormone levels are normal. I'm a competitive athlete, so hoping its something I can fix without taking away from my athletic ability. I started taking a lot of vitamins for hair too. Biotin (2000 mg per day) Also Prairie Natural's Hair-Force Vitamin B supplements, Vitamin C (1000 mg) Vitamin E caps (400 di) and Lysine - all these will assist with healthy hair growth. it seems the problem lies within in the excessive sebum coming from the sebaceous glands in the scalp so hopefully my blood work tests will find out why so I can get my hair back to normal. I also had acrylic nails for the very first time in May (when this started happening) I am getting them removed now in case it is an allergic reaction to whatever is in the acrylics - (process of elimination) With so many of us having this exact same problem in various age groups it seems weird to say its hormonal, it almost seems like an infectious epidemic of some sort - all I know is that I'm getting tested - I will keep u all posted.
UPDATE:  So I had the Acrylic Nails removed and already my fingers feel ten times better - though they look horrid - there is definately fungus under 3 of the fingernails - I'm putting a very strong anti-fungal cream under all the nails twice a day - however I wonder since this fungus was inside my fingernails if it had spread to my scalp through morning hair routines - shower, combing, styling. I had my MD do some blood work to see if this weird hair thing is related to fungal infection or hormones (androgen?). In the meantime I have found a half decent cure - I do the Nizoral with Apple Cider Vinegar twice a week - First the Nizoral, leave set for 2-3 minutes and attacks the sebum glands, effectively cleaning the scalp - then the Apple Cider Vinegar which restores the PH balance to the hair, then lastly my regular conditioner for damaged hair since the Cider Vinnegar leaves my hair very dry. This works really well and hair is shiny and no grease and can be styled. The in-between days that I don't use this combo is something I found which is Excellent - Nioxin - I sue level 3 for dyed or permed hair - I just started using it and OH Wow!!! My hair has never felt or looked better - super volume and bounce - and oh yeah - No Grease!!! I'm using the Nioxin 3 Shampoo, Conditioner, leave in Spray, and also the Voluminizer (which is also a leave-in spray). My hair looks freakn' fabulous - like when I was in my twenties!!!! I will update you all once the blood work comes in

[Traczu25]

hi there!

First time I heard about this problem was few years ago, my sister, at that time living in Poland, suddenly discovered the greasy patch on the back of her hair. I didnt see it, and just made fun of her. I have no idea how she got rid of it as I wasnt there.

The first time it happened to me 3 years ago. I live in China so I was furious and blamed the Chinese ... everything basically. It was very sudden and I wanted to get rid of it asap, I went to local a hairdresser, an dof course they looked at me like I was mad.

They really know how to wash hair here, but it didnt help 100%, after drying for ages it looked much better. I cant really remember how did I get rid of it completly, but I did.

Yeasterday morning I washed my hair. I usually wait for it to dry on it's own, but the weather colled down, I thought I will blow dry it. Just after few seconds I noticed the patch. I went to the bathroom straight away and washed my hair again. Just like in the past it didnt wash, it even gone worse.

I had a friend over for few days. We slept on the same bed as I have only one ><(please no comments) She washed her hair this morning and wanted to blow dry it too. The same thing happened to her!!!

There is few explanations to how she got it:
1. She slept on the same bed and the fungus/bacteria are contagious.
2. She used my shampoo - Elvive.
3. She dried her hair with my hair dryier.

I dont think its the drying problem, but it makes it worse!
I need to add that I'm European with very thin and dry hair, and she's Korean. So it affects all types of hair.

I washed my hair again this morning with washing liquid, and a shampoo and didnt blowdry it. It got a little bit better. Also lately I been putting my hair up, sometimes still wet. I just finished taking an antibiotic for a skin infection.

I'm going to buy Listerine today, but here is China, the only one I can get is the blue or green one. I hope it helps.

Also I think somebody should do some reserch on the fact that Listerine helps in 99% of the cases! There is anti - fungus ingredient and antibacterial ingredient in it.

I pray it will work. Honestly this place is killing me.

[sharonbrown]

This is a lifesaver. I thought I was going crazy! I've been going thru this for at least 4 months now and have bought and tried everything I could find. I'm getting the suave and the Listerine tomorrow and praying for the best! My scalp is gross feeling no matter how many times I wash it and the longer hair is like straw! I really hope this works and thanks for sharing your experiences with the rest of us!

[ladydi540]

Thank you so much for the solution! I tried the clarifying shampoo and listerine. It worked! It took two tries to get the oil completely out, but it was almost all gone the first time. I feel so much better. I've got my hair back!
Diane