You may have noticed that your hair is a little oilier during your period. And you’re not making that up. ‘Period hair‘ is one thing. What is happening?
“There are sebaceous glands in both the scalp and the skin on the face,” says Helen Reavey Glamour. Reavey works as a trichologist (or: a hair doctor) and explains that it all has to do with your hormone balance.
The week before your period, your estrogen level drops and you produce more progesterone. “This can stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum (oil). Then sweat, dirt, and a build-up of hair products are added, making your hair a lot greasy.”
You may also experience more hair loss during your period. This comes – once again – due to your hormones and the dip in your estrogen level.
Do you feel extremely tired when you have your period? Not bad. “There can be a number of reasons why you feel exhausted during your period,” says Dr Ashfaq Khan, obstetrician and gynecologist at Harley Street Gynaecology, speaking to Cosmopolitan.
“One of the most common reasons is premenstrual syndrome (PMS). You can also experience this during your period. PMS is said to be caused by a drop in estrogen levels and serotonin in the body. This causes mood swings and drops in your energy levels.”
Iron deficiency can also play a role, he says. This can occur due to blood loss, which makes a person feel exhausted.
There are of course many other things that can bother you during your period. Think of tender breasts, headaches, back pain, bloating and others food cravings. Although these complaints are common, it is always wise to visit the doctor in case of serious and persistent complaints.
Source: Cosmopolitan, Glamour
