Dry or oily hair can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'worrying' to 'very serious'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.
Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose dry or oily hair, we could:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
EFA Need | 90% | Confirm |
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome | 29% | Unlikely |
Sjogren's Syndrome | 21% | Unlikely |
Stress | 2% | Ruled out |
Birth Control Pill Issues | 0% | Ruled out |
Liver Congestion | 0% | Ruled out |
Dandruff | 0% | Ruled out |
Pregnancy Issues | 0% | Ruled out |
How dry or oily is your hair?
Possible responses:
→ Generally dry→ Recently more dry → Average / not applicable / don't know → Recently more oily → Generally oily |
Oral contraceptive pills can correct certain hormonal dysfunctions (particularly in teenagers), but they can also cause other health problems such as oily skin and hair.
Seborrheic dermatitis is a disease condition that can cause oily scalp and hair.
Dandruff also suggests the following possibilities:
A diet low in essential fatty acids can result in skin problems, such as dandruff.
Hypothyroidism can manifest as dry, flaky skin.
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease in which skin cells replicate at a rapid rate. Although the symptoms of psoriasis – silvery scales covering reddened areas of the scalp – appear similar to dandruff, psoriasis is very different. New skin cells are produced about 10 times faster than normal, but the rate at which old cells are shed is unchanged. Live cells then accumulate and form the thick patches covered with flaking skin.
A vitamin B6 deficiency can cause dandruff.
Hormone imbalance can cause skin changes resulting in oily hair or dry, brittle hair.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause the skin to produce excess sebum, leading to oily hair.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect the hair in various ways, including making dry hair oilier (or drier), and oily hair drier (or oilier). When excess androgen hormones are produced, the result can be oily hair and skin.
Stress can cause hair to lose its shine and become greasy and sticky.