With summer upon us and many people spending more time outdoors, sun protection is especially important for guys with shaved heads. Can sunburned scalp cause hair loss or does sun damage only affect the skin?
Sunburn typically does not cause hair loss. Sunburn and over exposure to sun can damage your scalp and your hair however.
Hair Damage From Sun Exposure
Exposure to sun can damage and dry out hair which makes it brittle and more likely to break. It’s possible that the breaking of hair leads some people to believe that their hair is falling out from the sun exposure.
If anything it’s possible that over exposure to the sun speeds up the hair growth cycle and since hair falling out is a natural and expected occurrence, some of your hair may move to the shedding phase quicker, leading you to believe the sun exposure is causing you hair loss.
And while it can take some time for it to occur, the sun does have the ability to lighten your hair temporarily by destroying the melanin. Once new hair grows in, it grows with your normal hair color.
Scalp Damage From Sun Exposure
Even if you do lose some hair if the skin is peeling, it will typically grow back. The damage done by sunburn is more the short term damage (pain, inflamed and sensitive skin, reddening) and longer term damage (increased risk of skin cancer, sunspots, skin damage).
My Personal Experience(s) With Sunburn
Having shaved my head since 1995, I can confirm that I have paid the price on more than several occasions by neglecting to wear sunblock and/or a hat during exposure to direct sun. As a light-skinned guy who tans moderately well, I know from experience how my skin tans and burns and which areas of my body are most susceptible to sunburn. Namely the:
- top of my head especially the forehead and crown
- back of the neck since with a shaved head there is no protection from the sun
- shoulders, typically when at a pool or beach and don’t have a shirt on
- middle of the back where I often forget to put sunblock
The first exposure to sun is crucial for sunblock protection in the sense that if you’re on holiday you don’t want to ruin your trip by getting burned after day 1 and then have to remain indoors for several days to heal.
But there is another reason and it has to do the myth of building up a base tan. As this quote from an article from the Harvard Medical School states:
Have you heard of the idea of a base tan? It may seem reasonable enough: before you head off to the beach for vacation, getting a tan ahead of time might help you avoid burning, and there’s the added benefit of not looking pale when you first arrive.
Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School
The problem with this theory is that it isn’t accurate and is made worse by the fact that it gives you a false sense of security. As if going in the sun to begin with helps you get a “healthy tan” as people often say.
The article continues:
Experts estimate that going out in the sun with a base tan is equivalent to wearing a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 3 to 4. This means the skin can be exposed to up to four times more sun before burning than without the base tan. For example, if you would ordinarily burn after 20 minutes in the sun, a base tan might mean you can be in the sun for up to 80 minutes before burning.
Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School
A sunblock of SPF 3 or 4 isn’t strong enough to protect your head and skin in general from sun damage for very long. Most experts will recommend 20-30 SPF.
When you “build up” your tan and don’t get sunburned but get darker, you assume things are ok. In actuality, you’re doing more potential long-term damage to your skin without even knowing it.
And since your shaved head is constantly exposed to the UV rays of the sun, it’s important you cover it up with a hat and sunblock. Sunburn is skin damage whichever way you look at it.
And even if constant sun exposure doesn’t result in you getting skin cancer, it can lead to premature ageing and sunspots on your head which are especially noticeable if you have no hair to cover it up.
How To Treat A Sunburned Scalp
The best way to treat sunburn is to avoid getting it in the first place. The hottest and sunniest times of the day tend to 11am-3pm when the sun is directly overhead. Avoiding direct sunlight during that time is key especially if you burn easily.
Once you get a sunburn, avoid the sun until you’ve healed and wear loose fitting clothing to avoid chafing and further aggravating the burned area(s).
Avoid chemicals and products that sting. Some shampoos and hair products can sting. Avoid using aftershaves since they have alcohol which will further aggravate your skin.
I’ve found that commercially made sunburn products help as does a lotion with a high concentration of aloe vera. I used aloe vera the most recent time I felt sunburn on my head and shoulders and it healed relatively quickly.
Avoid hot water. A cold compress is better. If you need to have a shower, don’t stay too long and don’t use hot water as it can aggravate your inflamed skin.
Remember to stay hydrated and drink lots of fluids ie. water.
Over the counter (OTC) medication like aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen might be taken to alleviate pain symptoms.
While some people use shaving cream to treat sunburn given its moisturizing and protective properties, there are better choices. Shaving cream is for shaving.
For more serious sunburns where you feel nausea, high fever, extreme pain and other severe reactions, see a doctor asap.
Conclusion
- There is no such thing as a healthy tan nor can you safely build up a tan by exposing yourself to sunlight. Sunburn = skin damage regardless of how you slice it.
- Don’t forget to use a good sunblock before having direct contact with the sunlight, even in winter when strong sun occurs.
- The best way to avoid a sunburn is to plan ahead and use sunblock of at least 30 SPF and wear a hat.
- Avoid being in the sun during the hottest times of the day ie. 11am-3pm.
- See a doctor if your sunburn leads to severe symptoms like nausea, high fever, significant pain, etc.
- If you’re looking to tan you might consider a spray tan option instead. Familiarize yourself with different products and the ingredients used first.
What’s your worst sunburn experience? Let us know in the comments below how you handled it.