The time of upheavals
“Wash your head!” How many times has there been a voice behind the bathroom door? Sometimes our teenagers smell good shampoo, of course, but not as often as we would like. Not to mention that some keep running their hands through their crazy locks, just to grease them a little more. Irreducibly rebellious 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’t do anything about it.
Until then, with two shampoos a week, their hair always seemed clean, but lately that doesn’t seem to be enough. Hormones, especially testosterone, disrupt the balance, leading to overproduction of sebum in the skin and therefore the scalp. The roots are oily, dandruff sometimes even appears with the development of micro-fungi or micro-bacteria, and itching is felt.
Nevertheless, 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 assay should be done to detect a possible disorder. In girls, an attempt will be made to reduce very high testosterone levels by specific treatment (such as a change in contraceptive, for example). In boys, we will try to combat the effects by providing vitamins and well-adapted local care”, explains Dr. Richard Mazharian, dermatologist.
We wash as soon as it is 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 get greasy, and every day if necessary, provided you use a mild shampoo for frequent use, that is to say with a neutral pH. If the root is particularly oily, a sebum-regulating shampoo is recommended. Once the product has been chosen, all that remains is to teach teenagers the right gestures: wet the head well, then apply the treatment by carefully massaging the skull and rinse thoroughly before repeating the operation once again.
Gel, hair dryer…: what to think?
The lack of hygiene is not always to be deplored. Some coquettes even take great care of their hair and apply a conditioner after shampooing. Perfect… on the condition, however, of rinsing thoroughly so as not to leave any 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, it’s a shame, because pulsed heat has the paradoxical effect of activating sebum production. In all cases, the device is held at a reasonable distance from the head (thirty centimeters minimum) and it is directed towards the tips.
As for young addicts to styling gels, encourage them to wash their hair each time they use it. These products tend to clog the pores of the scalp and then encourage the skin to produce more sebum as a defense reaction. However, as long as they comply and the sticky…and very greasy effect (the height!) is only a matter of looks, there’s nothing to get your hair tied up with them!
Too much sebum = hair loss?
The phenomenon is observed from adolescence in 12 to 15% of cases. From there to end up bald… Admittedly, 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 also counts, and if the parents were concerned, it is likely that their child will follow in their footsteps around 18 years old. In this case, a trichogram (examination to check the life cycle of the hair) is essential. Hair loss can be prevented by balancing the diet with a sufficient intake of vitamins B5, B6, B8 and zinc (fish, dairy products, butter, fruit, beef, etc.), avoiding tobacco and balancing the treatment contraceptive in girls.