Yes, puberty can contribute to your hair becoming more oily.
Understanding Oily Hair During Puberty
During puberty, your body undergoes significant changes, driven largely by fluctuating hormone levels. These hormonal changes are a primary reason why many people experience an increase in oil production, including on their scalp.
The provided reference specifically states: "Puberty or other changes in hormones can contribute to overproduction of natural oils."
These natural oils, called sebum, are produced by sebaceous glands located in your skin, including the scalp. Sebum helps keep the skin and hair moisturized. However, during the hormonal shifts of puberty, these glands can become more active, leading to an overproduction of sebum, which makes hair appear oily or greasy.
Other Factors Affecting Hair Oiliness
While puberty is a significant factor due to hormonal changes, it's not the only thing that influences how oily your hair is. Other elements can play a role:
- Genetics: Your genes can influence the activity level of your sebaceous glands. The reference notes that above-average oil production may run in your family. If your parents or close relatives tend to have oily skin or hair, you might be predisposed to it as well.
- The Weather: Environmental conditions can also affect hair oiliness. The reference mentions, "As the weather gets hotter, we perspire more and this can cause scalp oils to spread down the hairfibers, making hair appear greasier." Increased heat and humidity can make existing scalp oils more noticeable on the hair strand.
- Hair Care Routine: How often you wash your hair and the types of products you use can also impact oiliness, although this wasn't mentioned in the provided reference.
Understanding these factors can help you manage hair oiliness more effectively. While you can't change your hormones during puberty or your genetics, adjusting your hair care routine and being mindful of environmental factors can make a difference.
