Overly greasy hair may be due to seborrhea, which is a relatively common skin condition. Seborrhea occurs when the sebaceous glands create excess oil, or sebum, making the skin and scalp oily. Most people with seborrhea do not have any underlying health problems.
Hair and puberty
These are both likely caused by the sex hormone testosterone, which is a major player in both female and male reproductive development. Testosterone is thought to increase the production of sebum which is the substance that can make both skin and hair feel oily.
Sebum production is controlled by our hormones, so a sudden surge in scalp oil production could be down to hormonal changes. If you've recently gone through a major life event that's known to have an impact on your hormone levels, this may be having a knock-on effect on the amount of sebum your scalp is producing.
Shampooing too little or even too often can contribute to greasy hair. Typically, if you have greasy hair, you should shampoo daily. Washing more than once a day can cause your glands to overreact and produce more oil to make up for the extra shampooing. You'll also want to choose a shampoo that's made for oily hair.
Modern lifestyles have led to an increase in anxiety and stress levels, making them one of the most common causes of oily hair. “Stress causes your cortisol levels to rise. Cortisol stresses out the oil glands to produce more sebum, naturally leading to oily hair,” explains Sethi.
Sebum is vital to our hair, protecting it from environmental damage and keeping it supple, but too much can lead to a greasy look. Our hair also becomes thinner as we get older, and we don't renew the hair we lose as quickly, leaving us with less to absorb the oil (sebum) the scalp produces.
Confusingly, hyperthyroid states can also lead to effluvium, together with thinned hair shaft diameter and brittle, greasy hair (1, 9–11), despite an apparently increased hair matrix proliferation (3).
Thyroid hormones also influence the quality of your skin in a variety of ways. With hyperthyroidism, you may notice itchy and dry patches of skin. Your face may feel softer and swollen. You may even notice swelling around your fingertips.
Lifestyle and diet changes to fix oily hair
Your diet should consist of foods rich in vitamin B, especially B2 and B6. It is believed that these components in your diet can help keep your sebum production in control. So, consider adding foods like leafy vegetables, pulses, and seaweed.
If symptoms persist, a dermatologist can prescribe stronger ointments and crèmes to use on your scalp. Prescription-strength corticosteroids can be applied to the scalp and are generally effective but should be used sparingly because of possible side effects.
But those with symptoms can experience a puffy face, sluggishness, weight gain, feeling cold, a slowed heart rate, constipation, depression, and thinning hair. Not everyone has the same symptoms, so make sure to talk with your health care provider if you think you have hypothyroidism.
Thyroid disorders can have a noticeable impact on your energy level and mood. Hypothyroidism tends to make people feel tired, sluggish, and depressed. Hyperthyroidism can cause anxiety, problems sleeping, restlessness, and irritability.
Take a drink of water and swallow. As you swallow, look at your neck. Check for any bulges or protrusions in this area when you swallow. Reminder: Don't confuse the Adam's apple with the thyroid gland.
Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism can show up in the hands and nails. Hypothyroidism can cause dermatologic findings such as nail infection, vertical white ridges on the nails, nail splitting, brittle nails, slow nail growth, and nails lifting up.
Hypothyroidism can change a person's appearance in multiple ways. Often, people with an underactive thyroid have facial puffiness, especially around the eyes. The skin may also become dry and scaly.
The hives appear as swelling or welts, also known as wheals. They are pink and usually accompanied by an itching or burning sensation. They occur on the back, chest, buttocks, face, and neck. Sometimes, hives may affect the arms or legs, especially the upper arms and thighs.
To determine if Hashimoto's disease is the cause of hypothyroidism, your health care provider will order an antibody test. The intended purpose of an antibody is to flag disease-causing foreign agents that need to be destroyed by other actors in the immune system.
Acute or infectious thyroiditis
Symptoms may include pain in the throat, feeling generally unwell, swelling of the thyroid gland and, sometimes, symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland or symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland. Symptoms usually get better when the infection is treated with antibiotics.
Chronic hives are especially common in people with Hashimoto's thyroiditis , an autoimmune disease that causes hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland).
A Swollen Face Is One Of Many Hyperthyroidism Symptoms
A swollen face is one of the common Hypothyroidism Symptoms that people experience. A swollen face that is caused by low thyroid function is often referred to by medical professionals as “myxoedema.”
Low thyroid hormone levels may contribute to depression and sadness. Thyroid hormones control our body's metabolism and energy production. Without proper levels, mental health symptoms such as depression, anxiety, mood swings, and brain fog may become more noticeable.