Oily hair during pregnancy

introduction

During pregnancy there is a change in the hormonal balance of women, which has numerous effects on the body of the pregnant woman. In particular, the increased secretion of the hormones HCG, progesterone, estrogen, prolactin, FSH and LH, which serve to maintain the pregnancy and enable the child to develop optimally in the womb, is responsible for numerous changes in various organ systems.

This includes changes in the cardiovascular system, in the excretory organs, in the digestive system and in the oral cavity. But the influence of the increased hormone secretion is also evident on the hair of the pregnant woman. The effect of these hormones on the hair can vary greatly from pregnancy to pregnancy. Many women claim to have glossier and stronger hair during pregnancy. However, pregnant women often complain of oily hair.

Likewise, the opposite, namely dry and brittle hair is a possible consequence of the change in hormonal balance.

Changes to the hair can be very annoying and stressful for pregnant women, which is why individual advice on taking care of the hair is particularly important.

root cause

Changes to the hair, such as oily hair or dry, brittle hair during pregnancy are usually the result of changes in the hormonal balance of the pregnant woman. The most important factor is the amount of two hormones released, the estrogen and the testosterone. These two hormones affect the production of sebum in the sebum glands of the scalp and hair cells. Of the tallow has on the one hand the task to moisturize the scalp and hair, thereby extending the life of the hair cells. On the other hand, the sebum forms a species Protective filmwhich that Ingress of pathogens (for example bacteria or parasites) difficult. The production of sebum in the sebum glands is stimulated by the hormone testosterone. The result is an overproduction of sebum, which makes the hair look greasy. In contrast, the hormone estrogen curbs the production of sebum in the sebum glands. The result is dry and brittle hair, which is usually associated with a dry and itchy scalp. As the hormone estrogen reduces sebum production in the sebum glands, it introduces Lack of estrogen to a Overproduction of sebum, since the inhibitory influence of estrogen disappears. This in turn causes greasy hair to develop. Fluctuations in the hormonal balance of pregnant women are individually different, so that both oily and dry hair is possible in pregnant women.

Symptoms

Changes to the hair during pregnancy are usually only an aesthetic problem.However, oily, stranded hair can cause an unkempt appearance, which some pregnant women find extremely bothersome and stressful. Dry hair, which is often associated with a dry scalp, can also cause severe, unpleasant itching. Individual advice on hair care is therefore very useful.

Increased sweating can also make the hair appear greasy. This is due to frequent hot flashes in advanced pregnancy.

Learn more about this at: Hot flashes during pregnancy

Is that a sign of pregnancy?

Hormonal changes occur during pregnancy. This can bring about many changes and have a positive, but also negative effect on hair and skin. The hormonal change can lead to increased and even excessive sebum production on the scalp. The sebum is a layer of fat that protects the skin and hair from drying out and, if overproduced, can lead to oily hair.

Since anyone can get oily hair outside of pregnancy, too, rapid hair greasing should not be seen as a sign of pregnancy, as this sign is too imprecise. It can also occur, for example, when the pill is stopped or the hair is generally very dry. To confirm pregnancy, a pregnancy test and an ultrasound scan should always be done as a sure sign of pregnancy, as hair greasing unusually quickly can have many other reasons.

Read more on the subject below: Signs of pregnancy

Are there any indications of gender?

A myth is that the testosterone increase during pregnancy with a boy leads to overproduction of sebum glands and thus to greasy hair and thus newly appeared oily hair and blemished skin speak for the male sex of the baby. However, the rapid greasing of hair during pregnancy is not a clear indication of the child's gender.

The rise in testosterone does not have the same effect on all expectant mothers who have a boy. Expectant mothers who had to deal with greasy hair and oily skin before pregnancy are more likely to have problem hair and skin during pregnancy, even if the child's gender is actually female.

Blemished skin / pimples

The blemished skin or pimple formation during pregnancy can also be attributed to the hormonal change. There is overproduction of sebum not only on the scalp, but also on the rest of the skin. The overproduction of sebum leads to a blockage of the sebum glands. The sebum glands become inflamed and create pimples. In addition, bacteria can multiply better on inflamed sebum glands, which can ultimately lead to pus pimples (see also: Pus pimples on the scalp).

The good news is that overproduction of sebum decreases after pregnancy and mothers can hope for clearer skin and normal hair after giving birth.

diagnosis

In the case of greasy hair, this is a visual diagnosis that does not necessarily have to be made by a doctor. However, if a woman suffers from greasy hair during pregnancy, it is still advisable to see a doctor (e.g. a dermatologist or, if necessary, an endocrinologist). In addition to the hormonal fluctuations that exist during pregnancy, this can identify any additional causes for oily hair and thus advise those affected individually on how to care for their hair.

therapy

Oily hair during pregnancy is based on changes in the hormonal balance of the pregnant woman, which is why causal therapy is not possible. If a pregnant woman suffers from oily or dry hair, there are still some treatment approaches that can at least improve the symptoms.

If you have oily hair during pregnancy, it is advisable to wash your hair at regular intervals (but not too often) to rinse the sebum out of your hair. Washing your hair in the morning is particularly effective as the sebum glands produce most of the sebum at night. Lukewarm water should be used for this, as hot water stimulates the production of sebum in the sebum glands.

In addition, gentle care products should be used when washing your hair. During or after washing your hair, a scalp massage can help remove the sebum from the scalp. After a head massage, the hair may initially look greasy again because the sebum is pressed out of the sebum glands. However, if head massages are used regularly, the sebum glands are regulated and sebum production is reduced overall.

Afterwards, the hair can be brushed, but frequent hairbrushing should be avoided during the day, as the sebum on the scalp is distributed in the hair and makes the hair look greasy. If the hair becomes greasy again despite shampooing, the use of dry shampoo, baby powder or healing clay can help. A drug therapy, for example with the hormone estrogen, is not recommended for oily hair caused by pregnancy.

Mild shampoos, conditioners and hair treatments should be used when washing dry hair. These products should not contain alcohol or fragrances as these will further dry out the hair and scalp. The use of olive oil can also help with very dry hair. A scalp massage is also recommended for dry hair, as it can stimulate blood flow to the scalp. Since dry hair can break easily, the hair should not be brushed too often.

Read more on this topic at: Treatment of oily hair

forecast

After the pregnancy has ended, the woman's hormonal balance returns to normal and changes in hair often go away on their own. Nevertheless, it is advisable to take special care of the hair during pregnancy, as this contributes significantly to the well-being of the pregnant woman. If greasy hair persists beyond pregnancy, a doctor can be seen who can identify other possible causes for the changes in the hair.

prophylaxis

Oily hair during pregnancy is usually caused by fluctuations in the hormonal balance of the pregnant woman. These hormonal fluctuations cannot be prevented. In addition to hormonal fluctuations, such as those that can occur during pregnancy, but also, for example, during puberty or menopause, there are numerous other factors that influence the production of sebum in the sebum glands and thus the development of oily or dry hair in the Can also favor pregnancy.

Factors that favor oily hair are stress, heat (for example, when taking a hot shower or blow-drying), wearing hats and caps, or using hair conditioners or hair care products that contain silicone too often. Factors that favor dry hair include heat, the use of chemicals (such as hair dyes), or frequent washing of the hair. Avoiding these factors can help prevent greasy or dry hair from developing during pregnancy.

For more information on beauty topics during pregnancy, read our article Coloring hair during pregnancy.