The time of upheaval
“Wash your head!” How many times have we not given our voices behind the bathroom door? Sometimes our teens smell good on shampoo, of course, but not as often as we would like. Not to mention that some people keep running their hand through their crazy locks, just to lubricate them a little more. Irreducibly rebels and cracras? What if the nature of their hair had changed? Adolescence is indeed the time of hormonal upheavals with multiple more or less graceful repercussions, and that for once, they can not do anything about it.
Until then, with two shampoos a week, their hair still looked clean, but for some time now, that just hasn’t seemed enough. Hormones, especially testosterone, disturb the balance, leading to an overproduction of sebum in the skin and therefore in the scalp. The roots are oily, sometimes dandruff even appears with the development of micro-fungi or micro-bacteria, and itching is felt.
However, it is not enough to wait for youth to pass to fight against the effects of this dermatological storm. “If the symptoms are particularly important, a hormonal test should be done to detect a possible dysregulation. In girls, we will try to reduce a very high testosterone level by a specific treatment (such as a change of contraceptive, for example). In boys, we will try to combat the effects by a supply of vitamins and well-adapted local care “, explains Dr Richard Mazharian, dermatologist.
We wash as soon as it’s greasy
This medical care does not exempt you from adopting good hygiene habits without delay. First reflex: wash your hair as soon as it starts to grease, and every day if necessary, on condition that you use a mild shampoo for frequent use, that is to say with neutral pH. If the root is particularly oily, a sebum-regulating shampoo is recommended. Once the product has been chosen, it remains to teach teens the right actions: thoroughly wet the head, then apply the treatment by carefully massaging the skull and rinse thoroughly before starting again once the operation.
Gel, hair dryer…: what to think?
The lack of hygiene is not always to be deplored. Some pretty even take great care of their hair and apply a conditioner after shampooing. Perfect … provided you rinse thoroughly so as not to leave residue and an impression of greasy hair. A tip for them: concentrate the product on the ends and not on the skull, which does not need it.
Do they use a hair dryer? If so, that’s a shame, because the pulsed heat has the paradoxical effect of activating the production of sebum. In all cases, the device is held at a reasonable distance from the head (thirty centimeters minimum) and it is directed at the points.
As for young styling gel addicts, encourage them to wash their hair every time they use it. These products tend to clog the pores of the scalp and then cause the skin to produce more sebum as a defense reaction. However, as long as they comply and the sticky … and very greasy effect (the last straw!) Is just a matter of looks, not enough to crumple up the bun with them!
Too much sebum = hair loss?
The phenomenon is observed from adolescence in 12 to 15% of cases. From there to ending up bald … Of course, the sebum, produced in large quantities, suffocates the roots and ultimately leads to hair loss. But frequent washing with targeted shampoos limits this effect. Heredity matters too, and if parents were concerned, their child is likely to follow in their footsteps around 18. In this case, a trichogram (control examination of the life cycle of the hair) is essential. We can prevent the fall by balancing the diet with a sufficient intake of vitamins B5, B6, B8 and zinc (fish, dairy products, butter, fruits, beef …), avoiding tobacco and balancing the treatment contraceptive in girls.