Protect Your Scalp This Summer

As we get into August, we are entering what is usually the hottest month of the summer and many people look to spend as much time outside as possible to soak up those rays and top off their tans. Although it is good and healthy to get your dose of Vitamin D and spend time outside, you need to make sure that you are protecting your skin.

One of the worst feelings is a burn and a bad sun burn can leave you feeling pain all over your body, including on your scalp. Most people are good at remembering to slather their body with SPF before going outside to make sure that their face and body does not get burned, but for those with thinning or balding hair, it is easy to forget to protect your scalp too. Getting a sun burn on your scalp can be extremely painful and you should take care to avoid this.

If you are experiencing thinning or balding hair, it is incredibly important that you put SPF on your scalp, since hair loss leaves your scalp more exposed and is therefore, an easy target for getting burned. In addition to being extremely painful, excessive sunburns can lead to skin cancer. Clinical professor Dr. Paul McAndrews of the USC School of Medicine believes that skin cancer is becoming more and more common for those both men and women who have thinning hair, since more of the scalp is exposed than for those who have thicker hair.

Sun exposure has been known to lead to two different types of skin cancer. Carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer and Melanoma is the deadliest type. Melanoma usually presents itself in unusual or suspicious looking moles. If you are prone to developing moles, it is especially important that you wear a higher SPF when outside. If you are planning a day outside, you can avoid the most harmful rays if you are outside before 10 am and after 4pm. The most intense heat will be avoided, along with the deadliest rays.

It may seem a little strange to rub suntan lotion right onto your hair. You may want to take some lotion and combine it with a little water and then spray it onto your hair once it has dissolved. They also make spray suntan lotions, although there have been complaints that these are not as effective and do not last as long. If you want to protect yourself without using SPF, you can simply wear a hat.

There is no reason to avoid the rest of the summer and enjoy the nice, warm weather. Just take simple precautions of protecting your skin and scalp to avoid getting a sunburn.

If you are experiencing some thinning hair or balding you would like to know the cause, you can contact the experienced hair loss physician, Dr. Yates. He will be able to determine what is causing your hair loss and will let you know what your options are for treatment.