Although hair was originally designed to protect the scalp from sunburn, it's not uncommon for it to still get burnt. In fact, fine, thinning or light-colored hair are the most prone to this summer inconvenience because of their skin being more sensitive.
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Once in contact with the sun, skin gets red and itchy, it burns and it can sometimes even blister. All of this can be extremely uncomfortable, even painful. Other symptoms of a sunburnt scalp are headaches and migraines.
So how to treat sunburn on the scalp? And above all, how to prevent it? Let us tell you all about it.
Have you ever had a scalp sunburn?
— How to be a Redhead® (@HowToBeARedhead) June 27, 2023
How to relieve a sunburnt scalp?
By definition, a sunburn is a burn.It is caused by UVB rays entering the epidermis, producing a sensation of heat and tightness. These symptoms usually occur between 8 and 24 hours after exposure.
People's first reflex is to turn off the heat. In order to do so we recommend using cold compresses or wet towels. Placing them on your head for around 30 minutes will temporarily soothe the sunburn. After that, the next step is moisturizing. If you have cream that is specifically design to treat sunburns, you need to make it your best friend. This cream can heal the skin while it gets over its burn.
To soothe the skin, there areother solutions such as Aloe Veraor oil baths.
Jojoba, coconut and almond oils are particularly recommended when skin begins to peel. But be careful at this stage not to make things worse by peeling off dead skin!
During the healing period, make sure to brush your hair gently, opt for a gentle shampoo without sulfates (a substance that is very aggressive to the skin) and keep your scalp away from heat.
I HAVE SUNBURN ON MY SCALP pic.twitter.com/8vYd6mo6o8
— lin!! ★⁵ (@jsnims) June 26, 2023
Read more: Mistakes you should avoid at all cost when washing your hair
How can you prevent sunburn on the skull?
Like all other parts of the body, the scalp deserves to be protected from the sun using SPF. However, different skins mean different sunscreens. While bald people will have no hesitation in adopting an SPF 50 sun cream, thinner hair types can opt for a sun spray, a sun oil (perfect for nourishing the hair at the same time), or an SPF powder.
This article has been adapted from OhMyMag FR.
Read more:Here's what to do if you get sunburnt this summer
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