Exposing our bodies to sunlight is often associated with a range of health benefits, from boosting vitamin D levels to improving overall mood. However, the effects of sun exposure can be a bit more complex regarding our hair and scalp. While moderate sun exposure can be beneficial, prolonged exposure can lead to sunburn on the scalp and hair loss.
When the scalp gets sunburned, the skin becomes damaged and inflamed. This damage can weaken the hair follicles, leading to hair loss. While a sunburn on the scalp may not directly cause immediate hair loss, it can still adversely affect hair health. Sunburn damages the protective oils and cellular structure of the hair and skin, which leads to dryness and breakage. There are also claims that sunburn can trigger the production of a superoxide compound, which may influence hair follicles. In this blog, we'll explore in detail how overexposure to the sun can cause hair loss and how to overcome it.
Is the Sun Good For Your Hair Growth and Scalp?
Exposure to the sun has both positive and negative effects on your hair and scalp. On one hand, sunlight can benefit your hair by aiding in the production of vitamin D, which supports hair follicles and helps maintain a healthy scalp. On the other hand, excessive exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation can have detrimental effects, especially for people with lighter and finer hair.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, exposure to the sun can damage the outer cover of the hair stand which is known as a cuticle. You are especially susceptible to hair loss acceleration from the sun if you have lighter or finer hair. The risk of hair acceleration increases if you frequently lighten your hair, use heat on your hair, or swim in chlorine pools.
Moreover, prolonged sun exposure can also lead to other issues like hair loss, hair color fading, and dryness. The rays from the sun break down hair proteins, which results in weaker strands. Also, the scalp is sensitive to sunburn, causing scalp irritation, redness, and even peeling.
What is Sunburned Scalp?
The sunburned scalp is a type of skin damage that develops after exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight. The first layer of the scalp is made of skin so it is like any other kind of sunburn. Although scalp skin is slightly thicker than regular skin, it can still get sunburned. The symptoms of scalp sunburn include redness and pain. Sunburn can happen along the hair parts, hairline, in areas of hair thinning or baldness, or all over the scalp.
You have hair which is supposed to protect your scalp. However, it is not 100% effective. That’s why people who have less hair, thin hair, or no hair are more likely to develop scalp sunburn since there is no protection from hair. For this reason, hair loss from sunburned scalp is more common in those with thin hair.
How Can Sunburn Cause Hair Loss?
Overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can burn the scalp, damage hair follicles, and lead to hair loss, also known as telogen effluvium. Excessive UV radiation can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle and prematurely push more hairs into the shedding (telogen) phase. Here's how severe sunburn can lead to hair loss in detail:
1. Damage Hair Follicles
Sunburn on the scalp can hurt the hair follicles that grow hair. When the follicles are damaged from the sun's strong rays, it becomes harder for them to keep producing new hair. Hence, hair may start to fall out more easily, leading to thinning or bald spots on the scalp.
2. Scalp Inflammation
Sunburn causes the scalp to become red, swollen, and irritated. The scalp inflammation can disrupt the normal growth cycle of the hair and can force the hair follicles to enter a resting phase(telogen phase), where they stop growing hair for a while. All these phenomena from a sunburned scalp can cause hair loss gradually.
3. Makes Sensitive to DHT
Sunburn can make the hair follicles more sensitive to a hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT is known to shrink hair follicles over time, causing them to produce thinner and weaker hair. The increased sensitivity to DHT due to sunburn damage can accelerate this process, leading to progressive hair loss.
Symptoms of Sunburned Scalp Hair Loss
When the scalp is severely sunburned, it can negatively impact the health of the hair follicles, resulting in temporary or even permanent hair loss. Understanding the symptoms associated with sunburned scalp hair loss is crucial for early detection and intervention. Here are some common signs to watch out for:
Thinning Hair
If your scalp gets sunburned, it can lead to hair problems. One symptom you might notice is thinning hair. Thinning happens because the sunburn damages the hair follicles. As the damaged hairs fall out, your hair looks and feels thinner than before. This thinning can occur gradually or suddenly, depending on the severity of the sunburn.
Excessive Shedding
Another sign of hair loss from a sunburned scalp is excessive shedding. When the hair follicles get damaged by the sun's harsh rays, they can't hold onto the hair strands as tightly. This causes more hairs than usual to fall out during brushing, washing, or even just running your fingers through your hair. You may notice clumps of hair coming out or lots of stray strands on your clothes.
Brittle and Weak Hair
A sunburned scalp can weaken the hair strands, making them more prone to breakage and hair fall. If your hair feels dry, brittle, or lacks elasticity after sun exposure, it could be a sign of sunburn-related damage.
Delayed Hair Regrowth
After experiencing hair loss with sunburn on the scalp, you may notice that hair regrowth is slower than usual. Normally, hair follows a cycle ,i.e., old hairs fall out, and new ones grow in. But sunburn damage disrupts this hair growth cycle. It can take several weeks or even months for new hair to emerge from the affected areas.
How to Prevent Your Hair Loss From Sunburn Damage?
The good news is that there are ways to prevent sunburned scalp hair loss. Here are some ways you can limit hair loss due to sunburn.
Protect your head from direct sun exposure
It’s important to protect your head from direct sun exposure, especially when you go places like the beach in the spring and summer. It’s important to wear a hat or a scarf on your head or use an umbrella to keep the sun’s rays off of you. While the sun might slightly boost hair growth in the summer, too much exposure can do more harm than good.
Learn More: Does Wearing a Hat Cause Dandruff?
Don’t go out in the middle of the day
As tempting as the warm weather is, it’s better to go out earlier and later in the day rather than mid-day. The sun's rays are strongest in the early afternoon, especially during warmer seasons, so it's better for your hair to prevent hair loss if you do most of your adventuring outdoors in the mornings and evenings.
Swim with a cap in chlorinated pools
As previously mentioned, chlorine also contributes to sunburned scalp hair loss. Swimming in pools with chlorine, especially outdoor pools, can lead to sunburned scalp hair loss, which can cause significant damage to your hair. It’s better to wear a swimming cap when in chlorinated pools or avoid chlorine altogether by swimming in saltwater pools if possible.
Don’t over shampoo your hair
Another tip to avoid hair loss from sun damage is not over-shampooing your hair. Shampooing too frequently, especially with shampoos containing harsh ingredients, can strip your hair of its natural oils. These natural oils help protect your scalp and hair from sun damage. When your scalp and strands are dry and unprotected, they become more vulnerable to burning and shedding from sun exposure. So, stick to gentle, moisturizing shampoos, and don't wash your hair more than every few days.
Trim and condition your hair
One way to help prevent hair loss from a sunburned scalp is to trim and condition your hair regularly. Frequent trims clear your hair of dry and damaged split ends that could break off. Using a deep conditioning treatment also helps keep your hair strong and moisturized. With healthier, stronger strands, your hair is less likely to fall out excessively if your scalp gets sunburned.
Use sunscreen on your body and your hair
You are probably focusing most of your sunscreen on exposed parts of your body. However, its easy to forget to apply it on your scalp. There are different sunscreens which are specifically meant to be used on your scalp and hair to protect them from the sun damage.
Can You Reverse the Effects of Sun-Damaged Hair?
Yes, you can reverse the effects even if your hair has fallen victim to sunburned scalp hair loss. There are ways to reverse it back and get your hair healthy and beautiful. Nevertheless, if you are facing early or late stages of hair loss, it’s important to follow all of the advices above when it comes to taking care of your hair in the sun. There are also other ways which can help your hair regrow and even better than ever before.
Don’t use as much shampoo
According to Men’s Journal, using too much shampoo can be a factor in hair loss, especially after hair loss and thinning started by sun damage. You can preserve your hair’s natural oils that nourish the hair throughout the day and protect your hair if you cut down your shampoo usage to half or even a quarter of what you normally use, especially with sun-damaged hair.
That being said, it is important to regularly condition your hair. You really shouldn’t go for days on end where you aren’t conditioning your hair unless you’re substituting it with a hair mask. Your hair needs moisture and nutrients - the sun and some shampoos will severely strip your hair of natural oils that are essential.
Consider Laser Light Therapy
Laser hair regrowth treatment is the most powerful and effective treatment for reversing hair loss from the sunburned scalp and is recommended by 4 out of 5 hair growth professionals. The Theradome helmet, particularly, is a doctor-recommended treatment for hair loss that the FDA has cleared for safe and effective home treatment.
Despite some common misconceptions about laser hair regrowth therapy, the Theradome helmet is easy to use, effective, safe, and actually very affordable. It’s also not painful, as some might believe. While it does take some time to start seeing real results, it is one of the best ways to reverse the effects of sun damage on hair and hair loss.
Imagine a future where hair loss from sun damage is just a distant memory. Theradome's laser helmet can make that a reality. Don't hesitate – invest in your hair's future now!
Learn more about the Theradome.
Conclusion
While the sun can provide health benefits like boosting vitamin D levels, excessive exposure can lead to sunburned scalp and hair loss. Sunburn on the scalp can harm hair follicles, causing hair loss and other issues like dryness, flaking, irritation, and scalp inflammation. Preventive measures, such as using sunscreen on your scalp, wearing protective headgear, avoiding midday sun, and using gentle hair care products, are essential to protect your hair from sunburn. If damage occurs, treatments like regular conditioning, trimming, and laser light therapy can help restore hair health and promote regrowth. Taking these steps makes your hair stronger against the harmful effects of UV rays.
