© Skin Cancer Foundation
Quick answer - yes your scalp needs sun protection. Why? Well, skin cancer can develop on the scalp. Many of us (I hope) are religious about putting sunscreen on our face but how many of us think about our scalp? I know I often forget and I run a sunscreen company. Fortunately protecting your scalp is easy and should be done every day.
Doesn’t My Hair Protect My Scalp?
Your hair does shield some of your scalp from the sun. But many of us have parts in our hair, bald spots or even thin hair that doesn’t protect us well from UV rays.
Think about it, your scalp is often exposed to the sun and without protection. So your scalp can get sunburn or, even worse, skin cancer.
Does Wearing Hats Help?
Yes wearing hats definitely protects your scalp from the sun. And bonus if it’s labeled with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50+.
Today there are so many different styles of hats for every season. So when you’re about to head out one easy option is to pop on a hat.
What Else Can I Do To Protect My Scalp?
Ok, but I know not everyone likes wearing hats all the time. So what else can you do to protect your scalp?
There are specifically designed sunscreens for your hair. But if you don’t want to spend extra money, “you can also apply any type of sunscreen to your scalp that works for your face,” according to dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman.
Of course we have to mention we had a great SPF face moisturizer that uses natural and certified organic ingredients – feel free to try it on your scalp .
When and how do you apply sunscreen to your scalp? Turns out the best time to apply it to your scalp is when your hair is dry. Just apply sunblock to wherever your hair parts and any thinning or balding spots.
And what about UV-protection products you spray on as part of your routine? That kind of depends on your routine. Dr. Engelman believes that UV-protection products you spray on wet hair before styling are not as effective as applying sunscreen when the hair is dry. She suggests using these sprays together with sunscreen.
Suncare Smarts
Now that you know your scalp needs sun protection – just add a little sunscreen to it every morning. And what’s great is you can use the same sunscreen you use on your face.
For even more sun protection tips check out our Suncare Smarts blog series.