What can I do to take care of my very oily hair and skin?

Dear My Hair Needs Help,  

Finding the right combination of products and practices to get your skin and hair where you want them may take trial and error. Oily hair and skin are linked to the amount of oil produced by the sebaceous—oil—glands on your face and scalp. Your environment, genetics, and hormones all play a role in oil production, so treating it might look different for everyone. When dealing with oily hair, you might try washing your hair more frequently and trying shampoos that contain chemical ingredients like sulfosuccinates. For oily skin, it’s recommended that you wash your face twice a day and moisturize it with oil-free products. Continue reading to learn more tips and tricks about caring for oily hair and skin! 

What could be causing your oily skin and hair? 

Before jumping into a new hair and skincare routine, it’s recommended that you first identify the factors that could be contributing to your oil production. Some causes of oily hair and skin include: 

• Hormones: Androgens—a class of hormones—play large roles in the rate of oil secretion and number of oil-producing sebaceous glands you may have. Typically oil, or sebum, production will increase during puberty. Additionally, high testosterone levels, ovulation, stress, and hormone medications, such as birth control, may lead to more oil secretion.  
• Genetics: There’s a possibility that your oily skin and hair are inherited traits. Some people are born with more or less sebaceous glands and higher or lower levels of oil production. 
• Environment: Humidity is one of the leading causes of oily feeling hair so you may notice your hair and skin becoming oilier during months when humidity increases. 

List adapted from WebMD 

Changing your hormone production or underlying genetic conditions may require prescription products and medications. If you feel that your oily skin and hair may require more guided treatment, you may choose to discuss further with a health care professional.  

How can you manage your oily hair? 

Treatment options for oily hair may address both the appearance of and the rate of oil secretion. Some of these treatment options include: 

• Trying new products: Consider using shampoos made for oily hair with sulfosuccinates, such as disodium oleamine sulfosuccinate and sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate. These can help remove the oil from your hair without irritating your scalp. You may also choose to use a dry shampoo to reduce the appearance and texture of oily hair. As a general rule, consider avoiding oil-based products. 
• Increasing shampooing frequency: Wash your hair with shampoo daily or every other day. Be sure to rinse out all of the products you use. 
• Conditioning carefully: Avoid conditioning your scalp and keep the product toward the ends of your hair to prevent buildup on the scalp.  
• Drying and styling: If you use a blow-dryer for your hair, keep the temperature on a lower setting to avoid irritating your scalp. Contact with your scalp can stimulate oil production, so avoid over-brushing, rubbing your scalp with a towel, or touching your scalp throughout the day.  

List adapted from WebMD  

How can you manage your oily skin? 

When it comes to treating oily skin, some treatments manage the appearance of your skin while others reduce oil production. Recommendations include:  

• Trying new products: Sticking to products labeled as oil-free, noncomedogenic, and alcohol-free may keep your skin from oil-caused breakouts and clogged pores. Additionally, some products containing salicylic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid could decrease oiliness but should be used with caution because of their harshness. For many, a gentle facewash is more effective than harsher drying products.  
• Washing frequency: It’s recommended to wash your face when you wake up and before you sleep with clean hands. Keeping your skin clean by washing it after you sweat, or wear makeup can also help reduce the likelihood of clogging your pores with oil buildup, products, or dirt. If you use a cloth to dry your skin, ensure that you use a fresh one every couple of days.  
• Moisturizing: Applying an oil-free moisturizer after washing your face could help keep your skin hydrated. If your skin becomes dehydrated, it will start to produce more oil to compensate.  
• Limiting touching your face: Avoid touching your face too often to help keep your face clean and prevent breakouts. If you need to touch your face, try to make sure your hands are clean.  
• Preventing breakouts: If you wear a disposable mask, try using a new (and clean) mask each day (or every few hours). Washing your pillowcase once a week (or every few days) may also help reduce the bacteria you come in contact with.  

List adapted from the American Academy of Dermatology Association  

If you find that these other solutions just aren’t doing the trick, there are oral medications and products that may help reduce oil production. Consider meeting with a health care professional like a dermatologist to find out if prescription products may be right for you! 

Best of luck keeping the oil at bay,