Oily Scalp Types, Causes & the Most Effective Treatments for Grease-Free Roots

Remember how eager you were to bid goodbye to the dreadful past year, all ready for a new beginning with a new hairstyle and haircare regime?

New year, new you probably started out promising with your snazzy new hair, but with temperatures and the humidity in Singapore steadily rising over the past month, do you often find your hair in a limp and greasy state by mid-day on a daily basis?

In our tropical climate, oily scalp and hair are not that uncommon. An oily scalp is the result of excess sebum. However, contrary to popular belief, this oil (sebum) actually helps to nourish and protect our hair. It is when the production of sebum goes into overdrive that problems like itchy scalp and dandruff start to arise.

An oily scalp feels heavy and the hair can appear limp and greasy. The excess oil attracts dirt and bacteria, which causes the scalp to itch; pimples may also start to form on the scalp. When left untreated, an oily scalp can clog hair follicles and eventually lead to hair loss.

 

Why is my scalp oily?

Some of the most common causes of oily scalp are: dandruff, skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, and forehead acne – which in turn may be caused by hormonal imbalance, poor diet, stress and lack of sleep.

Different types of oily scalps have their own sets of symptoms. If you are experiencing an oily scalp with itchiness, the most likely culprit would be dandruff. Pink, scaly areas of skin develop in areas with a lot of oil glands, including the scalp. This causes the scalp to itch and excess sebum to form, turning the scalp and hair even greasier.

Some may encounter oily scalp with dry hair and this condition is usually a result of genetics, where a certain gene DHT, which causes oily skin, is present, skin conditions, over-washing of hair, and using shampoos or hair products with a lot of artificial chemicals.

Hair loss is another problem that comes with oily scalp, and is usually caused by genetics, ageing and damaged hair follicles.

 

How can I manage an oily scalp?

The best, fuss-free way to manage scalp sebum production is to incorporate a specially-formulated shampoo for oily scalp and hair loss into your daily scalp care regime (and combine targeted scalp treatments when you can).

Developed by trichologists and containing a powerful mix of prime ingredients, ADV Purify Shampoo is one of our go-to products for oily scalp. This gentle formula tackles different problem areas including dandruff, excess sebum, and itchiness.

Salicylic acid gently dislodges unhealthy build-up and sebum clogs to prevent dandruff and resulting problems such as hair loss. Ribwort Plantain Extract has calming and anti-inflammatory properties that work wonders to soothe itchy, aggravated skin. Last but not least, rice stem cells rebalance and refresh scalp and hair, which promotes blood circulation.

Not only is it a powerful sebum and dirt cleanser, ADV Purify Shampoo also does not contain harmful additives like parabens, benzophenone, mineral oils and artificial colourants. This means healthy, beautiful locks – the natural way. Use ADV Purify on a daily basis for the ultimate oil and dandruff-free hair!

ADV Purify Shampoo is available at our e-store and on PHS HAIRSCIENCE official stores on Shopee, Lazada and Zalora. Pair it with ADV Nutrition Shampoo for a non-invasive double cleanse, follow up with the ADV Nutrition Conditioner to moisturise the hair, and finish off the regime with the ADV Purify Tonic for a healthy and regulated scalp care treatment.