Humans have evolved to be less furry than animals, but we are still covered with hair. We have about 100,000 strands of hair on our heads alone, and millions more on the rest of our bodies. Each strand of hair emerges from a hair follicle, located inside our skin. Hair follicles do more than produce hair, however: they affect our skin in multiple ways.
Anatomy
Your skin's outer layer is called the epidermis. According to KidsHealth from Nemours, another, thicker layer lies beneath the epidermis. It's called the dermis, and it contains your nerve endings, sweat glands, oil glands and hair follicles. Each hair follicle produces new hair strands, which then emerge through your epidermis. Follicles are also connected to individual "sebaceous glands," the source of the sebum which lubricates your hair and skin to keep them healthy. Sebum, or oil, travels up the follicle to the surface.
Sebum and Acne
Sebum production often increases during the teenage years, which can cause problems for your skin. Your hair follicles can become plugged with sebum and dead skin cells. This can make the follicle walls bulge, causing a whitehead pimple. The Mayo Clinic claims that if your skin sheds dead cells irregularly, it can actually irritate your hair follicles and worsen acne.
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is similar to acne, and may look the same. It often occurs on the scalp, but can happen anywhere on your body. Folliculitis happens when your hair follicles become infected, often with Staphylococcus or another type of bacteria. This causes raised bumps that may be itchy. In serious cases, it can lead to scarring. Large infected bumps, blisters or long-lasting cases of folliculitis may require medical treatment.
Hair Products and Skin
Your hair and skin are dependent on each other, and what affects one positively might be harmful to the other. In particular, hair products applied to the scalp may cause acne, irritation or even chemical burns. SkinBiology.com reports that the lye in many hair relaxers can severely burn the scalp, damaging hair follicles and causing hair loss. More commonly, some of the oils and treatments recommended to coat the hair strand can clog your pores, bringing on acne and folliculitis.
Hair and Skin Care
TeensHealth from Nemours recommends shampooing your hair only as often as necessary to keep your scalp clean. However, if you suffer from acne, keep your hair away from your face to prevent dirt and oil transfer. You should wash your sensitive facial skin twice a day with gentle cleansers. While you should never let excess sebum sit on your skin and clog your follicles, you should also avoid drying your skin by using harsh shampoo or soap. This creates excess dead skin, which can be just as problematic as oily skin.
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