Stress and the greasies

[joyellen]

Forgive me if this topic has already been brought up before.

I usually have to wash every other day. However, I washed my hair in the late afternoon yesterday, had an extremely stressful night, and woke up with hair that looks like it needed to be washed again. I was just wondering if stress can affect how much oil the scalp produces? Sounds odd, but I've noticed that the only time I need to wash daily (with the exception of heavy exercise) is when I've been under a great deal of stress the day before. Any thoughts?

[Rohele]

Do you run your hands through your hair or play with it when you're stressed? (I do). I notice when I touch my hair more it seems to get/look greasy faster.

[Speckla]

Could you have sweated more during the night? I know that I do toss and turn when I'm stressed and I sweat more. I think more oil would also be produced with more sweat.

[joyellen]

Now that I think about it, I do twirl my hair more when I'm upset or stressed. I don't know if I sweat more at night if I'm stressed, but that could also be a possibility. Thanks!

[UncommonTart]

I'm not an expert, but I'll bet that extra stress could cause greasies. After all, stress is commonly accepted as an exacerbating factor for acne, right? Sebum is sebum, isn't it?

[Speckla]

Stress can release toxic chemicals into our bodies so perhaps sweating more is the bodies way of pushing them out?

[Ash]

Stress can release toxic chemicals into our bodies so perhaps sweating more is the bodies way of pushing them out?

That would make sense. If I eat fast food or food with a lot of chemicals in it, I start sweating afterwards. Normally I eat low/non fat natural foods. I have always felt that my body is trying to sweat out the chemicals.

As for hair, mine also can be greasier if I am stressed. It also becomes very limp and sheds more. :(