What is the oily stuff on my scalp?

Sebum. The scalp produces a natural, waxy oil called sebum from glands beneath the skin. Some people produce more of this oil than others. Sebum plays an important role in protecting your skin from infection and helping keep it moist.

Why is there a layer on my scalp?

Scalp buildup occurs when natural oils, dead skin cells, and hair products accumulate on the scalp. Over time, this can create flakes very similar to those that form in other conditions, such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis.

How do you get rid of sebum buildup on your scalp?

The first step in cleaning sebum plugs from the scalp is to wash your scalp with warm water. Next, use a mild shampoo while gently massaging your scalp with your fingertips. This helps loosen all the hardened and dried sebum on the scalp. Excess build-up of sebum occurs on the scalp rather than hair strands.

How do I know if I have excess sebum on my scalp?

Due to excess sebum, the scalp can look oily while hair looks slick, heavy and stringy. Clients suffering from an oily scalp frequently report experiencing itchy scalps which is typically accompanied by visible dandruff.

Is sebum on scalp bad?

Sebum isn’t all bad since it helps protect and moisturize your skin and keep your hair shiny and healthy. Too much sebum, however, may lead to oily skin, which can lead to clogged pores and acne. Genetics, hormone changes, or even stress may increase sebum production.

What does a sebum plug look like?

A sebum plug can look like a tiny bump under the surface of the skin or it may stick out through the skin like a grain of sand. When a sebum plug forms, bacteria that normally lives harmlessly on the surface of your skin can start to grow within the follicle. Inflammation follows, causing a breakout.

Does shampoo remove sebum?

A shampoo is technically designed to clean the scalp of sebum and prevent the development of folliculitis and seborrheic dermatitis. Shampoos are intended to rid the hair of sebum, sweat components, desquamated stratum corneum, styling products, and environmental dirt.

What are small tiny black specks in scalp?

Black dots, also called comedo-like cadaver hairs, can be found in almost 50\% of alopecia areata patients and indicate disease activity. Trichostasis spinulosa is a follicular disorder resulting from the retention of numerous hairs surrounded by a keratinous sheath in dilated follicles.

What happens if your scalp is too oily?

An oily scalp in turn can lead to uncomfortable itching, dandruff and thousand other problems. Not just this, it can also make your scalp prone to infections and hair fall as well.

Is it possible to have too much oil in your hair?

But you can definitely have too much of a good thing. An overly greasy scalp can lead to uncomfortable itching and seborrheic dermatitis. It can even provide a feast for the fungus that causes dandruff. That said, you don’t want to strip off all your oil. Your natural oils protect hair and are vital for a healthy scalp and lustrous hair.

How to use tea tree oil for oily scalp?

To use tea tree oil to combat oily scalp, mix a few drops of the essential oil with any carrier oil such olive, almond, jojoba or coconut and massage it all over your scalp for about five to seven minutes. Repeat this at least twice a week to see results.

How to get rid of scalp buildup naturally at home?

First, you want to remove the scalp buildup and give your scalp a fresh start. Here is how. Wash your hair and scalp with a gentle cleansing shampoo. Apply coconut oil to your scalp, enough to cover it in its entirety. Leave the coconut oil to sit on your scalp for 30 minutes.