Sebum buildup happens when the sebaceous glands in the scalp produce too much oil. Product residue occurs when hair products — such as shampoo, conditioner, or styling products — are not fully rinsed out of the hair when washed, leading to a buildup of product on the scalp.
Sebum is a natural, waxy oil produced by glands in hair follicles that keeps the skin moist and forms a barrier to protect the skin from infection. When combined with sweat, dead skin cells, and other debris, the buildup can cause flaking and make the hair look greasy.
The biggest cause of a shiny scalp is the buildup of oil. Your entire body produces oil naturally, and your scalp is no different. Oil is produced in sebaceous glands, and you have them all over the place.
Look for a clarifying shampoo that contains salicylic acid, which helps to break down sebum plugs. Exfoliate your scalp: Just like exfoliating your skin helps remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, exfoliating your scalp can help to remove sebum plugs.
Scalp buildup can occur when an oily secretion called sebum accumulates alongside sweat, hair products, and dead skin cells on the scalp. It can have symptoms similar to those of seborrheic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, and eczema.
Hard water contains high levels of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals remain on our hair, leaving behind a residue that can feel sticky and waxy. You can reduce hard water by installing a water softener shower head.
Symptoms of a fungal scalp infection include small patches of scaly scalp skin (which may be sore), patchy hair loss and itchiness. Other types of fungal infections (including ringworm) are generally treated with antifungal cream from the pharmacy, and you don't need to see a doctor unless it persists.
Have you ever scratched your scalp and noticed white, waxy buildup under your nails? That's sebum mixed with dead skin cells. It's hard for shampoo alone to wash away your oily scalp issues. And issues like stress and weather can increase the scalp's sebum production, making you even oilier.
In order to create this natural scalp scrub, simply mix 2 parts sugar and 1 part honey together in a bowl. Apply to your hair and leave on for a few minutes before rinsing it off. Make sure to rinse thoroughly as you wouldn't want to leave any sugar residue behind!
Your skin type plays a significant role in how shiny your scalp appears. If you have oily skin, your scalp naturally produces more sebum, which can lead to increased shine. Conversely, even those with normal or dry skin may notice shine, especially if they use products that add moisture or oil to the scalp.
The first sign of CCCA is often noticeable hair loss in the center, or crown, of your scalp. If you have this type of hair loss, you want to treat it early. Starting treatment early can prevent CCCA from spreading outward and causing more permanent hair loss.
An unhealthy scalp can show up as skin concerns on the scalp or issues with your hair. "An unhealthy scalp shows hair loss, hair breakage, dandruff, redness, pain, acne, and cysts," says Ayesh.
Scalp massage is a simple and effective way to encourage circulation and loosen buildup. Rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar can also help remove buildup and restore your scalp's pH balance. If you prefer a more intensive exfoliation, you can try a scalp scrub or chemical exfoliant.
A seborrheic keratosis (seb-o-REE-ik ker-uh-TOE-sis) is a common noncancerous (benign) skin growth. People tend to get more of them as they get older. Seborrheic keratoses are usually brown, black or light tan. The growths (lesions) look waxy or scaly and slightly raised.
While it may not be visible at first glance, a simple scratch on your scalp could reveal tiny flakes around the part in your hair or even a white, oily substance under your nails. That substance is a high concentration of scalp sebum, along with some product buildup, sweat, and dead skin cells.
Washing your scalp with warm water is the first step in removing sebum clogs from your head. After that, use a gentle shampoo and massage your scalp with your fingertips. This aids in the removal of all hardened and dried sebum from the scalp. Sebum build-up occurs on the scalp rather than on the hair strands.
What is seborrheic dermatitis? Seborrheic dermatitis is a common, noncontagious, easy-to-manage skin condition. This type of dermatitis causes itchy red patches and greasy scales on your skin along with white or yellow crusty or powdery flakes on your scalp.
Scratching can disrupt the oil layer and add fungus to the scalp. Both of these are factors in dandruff and can trigger flaking. The skin sheds to get rid of the irritant or foreign object, and scratching just adds more of that.
Use an Exfoliating Scalp and Hair Scrub
To gently exfoliate daily buildup, use a delicately exfoliating scalp and hair scrub as part of your hair care regimen once a week. An exfoliating scalp scrub can be used as a precursor to shampoo or as a shampoo itself and works wonderfully for a deeper cleanse.
O'Connor says you can even leave it on as a treatment for a few minutes (say, no more than 10) before shampooing. On the flip side, if you're experiencing some dandruff, you might want to pour the witch hazel on a cotton pad and gently rub the scalp to lift the flakes.
Head lice usually look grayish-white or tan in color, though they can camouflage. Adult lice are around the same size as a sesame seed. Lice eggs may look like tiny ovals on the hair shaft. Head lice are tiny parasites that live on the human head and feed on blood from the scalp.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a popular home remedy. It's often added to foods,1 and some people also apply it to their skin, scalp, or hair. It's known to have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral actions,2 and it may also offer benefits for scalp flaking or thinning hair.
A scalp yeast infection causes an itchy rash on your scalp. The rash may be red or purple and appear in patches of various shapes. The rash may crack and crusts may form. This crusting could cause hair loss.