Oily hair during pregnancy
The body of a pregnant woman is subject to numerous hormonal changes, which can also affect the appearance of the skin and hair. In some pregnant women, the hair appears fuller and shinier during pregnancy, while in others, hair loss, dry or oily hair may occur. Many women report that they had to change their usual care product during pregnancy.
As a rule, a return to the usual skin texture after the birth is a matter of course. The hair also regains its accustomed quality, so that a change in care is usually only temporary. The effect of the female sex hormones on skin and hair can unfortunately never be predicted exactly.
Where estrogens make the skin appear firmer and rosier in many women due to increased blood circulation and the hair appears fuller as a result of reduced natural hair loss, in some cases there is also increased sebum production and consequently skin impurities and oily hair.The changes become most obvious around the fourth month of pregnancy. Here too, it is important to follow the care tips for oily hair. Although regular washing helps to remove the greasy film, excessive cleaning with grease-dissolving and aggressive products should be avoided.
Extensive showering under hot water should be avoided to prevent the scalp from drying out. After cleansing, the hair should be air dried if possible, as the hot air of a hairdryer can also increase sebum production by drying the scalp. When brushing, a brush with natural bristles should be used, since these, unlike plastic bristles, absorb the sebum better. Since oily hair is a cosmetic problem, which usually disappears of its own accord within a few weeks after the birth of the child, no further therapy is necessary apart from special care. Occasionally, washing can also be suspended for the duration of a day to protect the hair.
Influence of hormones on oily hair
As the largest human organ, the skin is highly susceptible to the influence of various hormones. These include above all the male sex hormones (androgens), which are produced in both the male and female organism. The production of sebum is increasingly dependent on androgens.
The greater the proportion of androgens in the hormone balance, the more sebum is produced in the sebaceous glands of the skin. Although this primarily protects against physical and chemical stimuli and skin infections, it can also leave a greasy shine, which many people find cosmetically disturbing. Hair grows as a skin appendage from so-called hair follicles, which lie in the skin and are equipped with sebaceous glands in addition to their own blood supply and innervation.
The activity of these glands is subject to the same hormonal regulation as the other sebaceous glands of the skin. People who suffer from oily skin usually also complain about oily hair. In addition, the blood supply of the hair follicle can also react very sensitively to high androgen concentrations, depending on genetic predisposition.
For example, in some people, an increased level of the male sex hormone testosterone can lead to so-called androgen-mediated hair loss due to the restriction of the blood supply to the hair. The hair loses its fullness and thins out more and more, which reinforces the impression of oily hair. Women can also suffer from androgen-mediated hair loss or oily hair if their estrogen levels are low or high.
