• Why do white flakes come out of my hair when I scratch it? This is Seborrheic Dermatitis, also known as dandruff, which causes irritation and inflammation. Pink scaly patches start to appear on the scalp which is where most of the sebaceous glands are located and produce oil.
  
  

• Certain skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis may cause red scaly patches to appear on your scalp.
  
  

• Overwashing washes out the oil that is needed to moisturise our hair. Hence, the scalp produces even more sebum which makes our scalp oily. 
  
  

• Hormonal Imbalances especially during puberty, pregnancy, menopause.
  

• Stress may increase oil production.
  

• Diet

– Sugar. It causes hormonal imbalances, disrupts inflammatory processes in the body, increases blood sugar levels leading to an increased production of oil.

– Carbohydrates. It increases blood glucose levels, hence, the pancreas needs to release insulin which will balance blood glucose levels. However, excess insulin exacerbates sebum production

– Fried Food. We all know how unhealthy fried food is, and yes, it contributes to an oily scalp too.

– Milk Products. It may come as a shock to some of us, especially for some who love consuming milk products. But apparently, it is responsible for the increase in production of sebum.

– Excess consumption of salt. Due to the lack of water, the body produces oil. Take note of the salt content of the food you consume.