Protect Your Head from the Sun!
No matter how much hair you have on your head, it is always wise to protect your head from the harmful effects of UV rays. It is even more important to take the necessary precautions to protect your scalp if you are bald, especially after a hair transplant, to protect the areas where hair restoration has taken place.
Without hair as protection, the skin on your head is left susceptible to the harsh rays of the sun. At the very least, this can lead to an uncomfortable sunburn and, at the worst, skin cancer. But all of the possible damage caused by exposure to the sun can be prevented.
Melanoma (skin cancer)
Nobody ever wants to consider the possibility of getting cancer. The scary reality is that skin cancer of the head is more serious than the cancer found in some other areas of the body. What doesn’t make it any better is that it is sometimes ignored and there is a delay in seeking a diagnosis and treatment. To add even further insult to injury, the head is one of the most abundant sources of blood vessels and lymphatic cells that are located in a prime area for the sun’s rays to be directly hitting at all times of the day. This creates the perfect scenario for melanoma to spread and become deadly if certain precautions are not taken.
The good news is that the solution for protecting yourself from the harsh UV rays of the sun are very simple! All you need is to either wear a hat or sunscreen – or even better, both.
Wear a hat
At the very least, no matter how much hair you have, it is a good idea to wear a hat if you are planning to be in the sun for any prolonged period of time. We recommend this as a must if you are planning to be outside at all after a hair transplant. Not only can a sunburn on a newly transplanted area of the scalp possibly lead to a life-threatening issue like cancer, but at a minimum, it will affect the potential results of the transplantation. Any hat that provides protection of your head and of your face and neck is the best choice. But anything is always better than nothing.
Wear sunscreen
If you already have a moderate to advanced area of hair loss, it is a good idea to apply sunscreen to the areas that are bald. An SPF of at least 30 is recommended, and it is a good idea to apply it every day. A waterproof sunscreen is also a good idea so that it will not wash off throughout the day. If you have just recently had a hair transplant and are still within the first 2 weeks, it is not a good idea to apply anything to the transplanted area. If you are planning on being out in the sun during that time, please advise us. Dr. Torgerson will make the appropriate recommendation for you and your particular situation.
