Scalp 101 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.
Exfoliating your scalp can also help remove buildup and promote healthier hair. 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.
A person can often treat their scalp buildup at home by using a shampoo and conditioner most suitable for their hair. Avoiding certain products, keeping the hair clean and groomed, and moisturizing the scalp can also help. A person should talk to their doctor if they cannot get rid of the scalp buildup on their own.
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.
Experts think the overgrowth of a type of yeast or fungus called malassezia is one of the main causes of dandruff. This yeast lives on your skin naturally and feeds off the oil your skin makes. When your skin is irritated, it will make more oil and skin cells to help soothe the irritation.
Not only does your scalp have a plethora of sweat glands, but it also has an abundance of sebaceous (oil) glands, which produce oily sebum. Have you ever scratched your scalp and noticed white, waxy buildup under your nails? That's sebum mixed with dead skin cells.
Dandruff causes white or grey flakes of skin to appear on the scalp and in the hair. The flakes are often more noticeable in darker hair and if they fall from your scalp onto your shoulders. Your scalp may also feel dry and itchy.
A regular exfoliation will help lift away build up. Try using a pre-wash scalp brush, and your fingertips (but not your nails) to massage in your shampoo. This will further help to physically remove any lingering build up. A clarifying shampoo two or three times a month can work wonders.
Regular use of a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) exfoliant for sebaceous filaments can really help, because BHA is oil-soluble and can dissolve sebum and other substances crowding the pore lining. Use of a well-formulated clay face mask for sebaceous filaments might also help due to the clay's oil-absorbing properties.
White Piedra. This is an infection of the hair shaft which is caused by a fungus variety known as Trichosporon, which is found in soil and dirty water. It is not considered to be wildly contagious but can spread within contaminated environments.
Causes of Excess Sebum on the Scalp
Hypothyroidism: Low thyroid function can cause significant increases in testosterone, the hormone that directly influences sebum production. Metabolic disorders: Unhealthy fats (namely saturated or trans fats) can affect your metabolism and trigger an increase in sebum production.
Dry dandruff is made up of small, white flakes that can easily fall off the scalp. It is usually caused by a dry scalp. Wet dandruff, on the other hand, is caused by excess oil in the hair. The yellow flakes of wet dandruff are much larger and can become sticky, causing them to clump together and cling to your hair.
They do, however, clear fungi and fungal spores from the hairs and surface of the scalp. An antifungal shampoo or cream may be advised twice-weekly for a couple of weeks in addition to antifungal medication - for example, selenium shampoo, ketoconazole shampoo or terbinafine cream.
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. “Seborrheic” refers to the “sebaceous” glands while “derm” means “skin.”
Apple cider vinegar can be used to treat acne and blemishes. Thanks to its antimicrobial power—due to the presence of malic acid—it regulates the production of sebum, helping to fight pimples and blackheads.
Vitamin D seems to inhibit sebocyte proliferation, differentiation, and sebum secretion, all of which are key factors in the production of sebum.
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.
A regular lemon-infused water rinse can help in removing calcium deposits from the scalp. Apple cider vinegar. Another effective remedy is a blend of apple cider vinegar and honey. Mix one part of each, then use a cotton swab to apply it directly to the scalp.
Use a Clarifying Shampoo
Both Rubin and Shirazi recommend using a clarifying shampoo to tackle buildup. There are many kinds of formulations, with certain ingredients being better for curly or damaged hair. No matter which one you select, Shirazi says to use clarifying shampoo on wet hair focusing on the scalp.
Dandruff is caused by overgrowth of a yeast (malassezia) present on most normal skin. Less washed hair can result in a more oily scalp. Malassezia grow by “feeding” on the oil produced by the sebaceous glands attached to hair follicles. Dandruff is treated with more frequent hair washing to reduce oil.
Head and body lice and their egg casings — known as nits — may resemble white piedra stones. However, nits are not as easy to remove as white piedra deposits, and lice cause severe itching while white piedra does not. Also, with a lice infection, tiny white bugs that resemble crabs may be visible to the naked eye.