Sudden oily scalp, the crown area. Will not wash out, why? What is it? I am healthy and bath daily.

[roxie05]

The crown area of my scalp suddenly became very oily.  I have washed my hair with every shampoo I thought was strong or harsh.  I have even tried liquid dish detergant.  Nothing works.  I am a healthy woman who baths daily, I say this to offset the idea that maybe I am ill or unclean.  Please tell me what this is, how I can get rid of it and how I might be able to prevent it from coming back.

[Linzraye00]

I've been suffering for a week. This came on out of the blue and I had no choice but to put my hair in a ponytail. I'm 33 and have no changes to my lifestyle or medication. After reading all of the comments to rushed to WALGREENS. I made a paste of apple cider vinegar, baking soda, and listerine. I let it soak on my head and rinsed. Then I washed with baby shampoo and a medicated psoriasis shampoo with 3% sal-acid. Good as new!!! I am so relieved!!

[pgdhar]

I am 32 and I have the same problem for the past 5 months now. I understand how frustrating it is.But recently Ive tried something which helped me and thought I should share. I ve shampooed my hair normally with a mild shampoo, then I applies Jhonson baby shampoo on the affected area rinsed and left it for about 5mins. Then washed it with warn water.It helped me a lot. Hope it helps you too.

[greasyhairoutofnowhere]

pgdhar,  does it still reoccur?  If so, have you ever discovered what caused it?  I will try johnson baby shampoo tonight

[LilTex]

Had issue for 10-11 months - close to a year but not quite.
Tried:  vinegar/water, dawn, tea tree oil, selsun blue, all of it.  
I was washing my hair twice a day (lather/rinse/repeat - so really a total of 4 times)

Items to buy:  Nutrogena anti-residue shampoo (the clear shampoo) and Head & Shoulders Moisture Care Scalp Soother Treatment initially.

1.  Changed lotions to lotions without dimethicone in it (Texas Scents from HEB is what I use now).  I don't use face moisurizers (except for my eye area, I'm 53 and I need that!) :)  and can't tell the difference.

2. Quit exercising until my hair started becoming normal again.

3. Wash hair 2x a day (lather, rinse, repeat) for 2-3 days with Nutrogena anti-residue shampoo (the clear shampoo).  

4. Day 4 or whenever the residue and oily gunk is gone, before shampooing, spray scalp with Head & Shoulders Care Scalp Soother Treatment and leave in 1-2 minutes, then wash with the Nutrogena once.  Do this for about a week.

5. Once your scalp starts feeling normal try to rotate a gentler (dimethicone free) shampoo.  I'm rotating in OGX Coconut water shampoo.

6.  Once a week I condition with Furterer Curbicia mask ($26 on Amazon), I only leave in for 1-2 minutes (not the 5 minutes that is in the instructions) then use the Nutrogena after that.

It's important to note that any time I tried to deviate and use a dimethicone shampoo I'd immediately start feeling that gunk come back.

I am NOT a doctor but I suspect what happened was my scalp was dry and I was using conditioners and hair products that sat on top of my dry scalp and started blocking in my natural oils and all that gunk and oils sat on my dry scalp and started getting....gungky.  

I sincerely hope this helps someone.  I found this post back about 7 months ago and promised myself that if/when I finally figured out a 'recipe' that worked I would come back and let everyone know.

I'm not saying this will work for EVERYONE, I think some of these issues are different, some may be bacteria, some may be fungal, but if you tried everything, then give this a shot.

Lastly, whenever I feel just a little oily crown again then I immediately use the Nutrogena (lather/rinse/repeat).  It truly has done wonders for me and I do swear by it.  

[greasyhairoutofnowhere]

LilTex,  did you ever find out what caused it? are you still dealing with it?  I am just now experiencing this and concerned. will try remedies tonight.

[Countryksss]

I cannot believe the amount of people with the same problem!  I am a 49 year old woman in good health and I have been suffering every few months with this for a few years now.  It comes on suddenly and usually lasts about a week then disappears.  Sometimes Dawn works....sometimes it doesn't.  So frustrating.  My hair is so greasy right out of the shower....I have been late to work the last three days because I have rewashed my hair several times a morning....I teach and being late is not cool!  My hair is thin and fine to boot....so it shows really bad and I cannot style it.  I look horrible and I am so embarrassed.  It is now after midnight and I know I have to get up early and try again....hoping today was the last day for a while.  Not sure I have any of the items listed in the house.  I have vinegar but I think it is white....not apple cider.  Ugh.  Tomorrow I will go and buy all the stuff mentioned to keep in the bathroom cabinet!!!!  Thanks for all the posts.....at least I finally know I am not alone!!!!

[greasyhairoutofnowhere]

Countryksss, did it work?  have you experienced any relapses?  did you ever discover the cause?

[plumtree24]

Wow, so many people going through the EXACT same thing!  Same spot, same thinking that it was product that needed to be washed out, same conditions- out of the blue, same solutions.  Thanks for the tips, everyone!  Boo this problem!  Yay internet!

[emmyyy12345]

My solution for this issue was using BAMBOO CHARCOAL SHAMPOO.

I first started experiencing this problem when I vacationed abroad, similar to several other responses I've read.  There, I was able to purchase bamboo charcoal shampoo, however you can purchase it online (Amazon or Google).  My brand was called Take Sumi and was purchased at the store in Bali.  This has worked like a charm for me after months of dealing with this problem on and off.  I love that this is a natural remedy rather than using harsh soaps or chemically loaded shampoos.  

Best of luck ladies!