What Is Sebum and How Does It Affect Your Scalp?

What is Sebum?

In simple terms, sebum is natural oil secreted by your skin’s sebaceous glands and our skin needs it to function. Many of us focus on the negatives of sebum, such as it’s connection to acne and it’s ability to make your skin look greasy however the presence of sebum is actually extremely important as it acts like a shield and makes our hair and skin protected against dehydration. Thank you Sebum!

Just like the skin on your face, your scalp contains sebaceous glands that produce oil (sebum). In the right amount, sebum helps keep your hair beautiful, soft and shiny. However an excess of sebum production can leave your skin oily and your hair flat and greasy.

Excessive sebum production is a sign that your scalp is unhealthy and quite frankly, unhappy. If not treated properly, it can lead to a multitude of scalp and hair issues including a dry scalp, dandruff and hair loss.

What causes too much Sebum?

When you shower, the chlorine that is present in hard shower water dries the skin out and subsequently causes sebaceous glands to overproduce sebum. This "drying out" of the skin can cause irritation, redness and sensitivity resulting in or inflaming psoriasis or eczema. For our hair, chlorine eats away sebum, our natural protective barrier resulting in dry, brittle hair.

Why Does a Healthy Scalp = Healthy Hair?

Certified hair expert, Guy Parsons, tells Harper’s Bazaar "Each hair grows from, and through, an individual follicle which surfaces on your scalp. Sebum (a.k.a. oil) is also produced by each individual follicle via the sebaceous gland, the amount of which will vary from person to person. It is essential that the follicle and the scalp, at point of exit, are clean, clear, healthy and maintained; follicles that are full of sebum or blocked by dead skin, dandruff or infection will have an impact on the quality of hair growth. In fact, permanently blocked or obstructed follicles may eventually cease to produce hair at all. The scalp is made up of cells which divide and continually work their way to the surface and then shed – as such, it is essential that dead skin is removed by brushing or washing, but also by weekly exfoliation."

So now what?

The good news is that a dry scalp or greasy hair can be solved in the shower with purifying products that help to rebalance your scalp’s natural state. Our Vitaclean Shower filter, will instantly reduce the skin's exposure to chlorine and damaging chemicals from hard water, leaving your skin more moisturised and less irritated and your hair noticeably softer, shinier, and stronger. It is also essential that dead skin is removed by brushing or washing, but also by weekly exfoliation to leave you with a happy scalp and beautiful hair.