Don’t Let Scalp Sunburn Ruin Your Getaway: Here Are 6 Ways to Treat Your Sunburned Scalp
Key takeaways:
A scalp sunburn can happen along the hairline, where the hair is parted, or in areas of hair thinning or baldness.
You can treat a sunburned scalp with cool showers, over-the-counter pain relievers, and aloe vera moisturizer.
A scalp sunburn can increase your risk of developing skin cancer. You can protect yourself by wearing a hat, using sunscreen on your scalp, and/or staying in shaded areas during the hours when the sun is strongest.
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Warm weather usually means more time in the sun. Being outside can be great for your physical and mental health. But increased sun exposure comes with one major drawback: an increased risk for sunburn.
Sunscreen protects skin against harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. But some parts of your skin aren’t so easy to protect, like your scalp. People with all degrees of hair length and thickness can get a scalp sunburn. And scalp sunburns aren’t only painful — they also increase the risk of skin cancer. But there are ways to protect your scalp from sunburn, and ways to soothe your scalp if you’ve already gotten a burn.
What is scalp sunburn?
Scalp sunburn is skin damage that develops on your scalp after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. It’s like any other type of sunburn. Scalp skin is slightly thicker than regular skin, but it can still get sunburned.
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Sunburn is more likely in people with fair skin, but it can also happen in people with darker skin tones. Symptoms of sunburn in lighter skin tones include redness and pain. Darker skin may not show redness, but it may appear darker than usual, and feel warm, painful, or tight.
Scalp sunburn can happen:
Along the hairline
On the part in your hair
All over the scalp
Hair helps protect your scalp from sunburn, but it’s not 100% effective. People with less hair, lighter hair, thinning hair, or no hair are more likely to develop a scalp sunburn since they don’t have as much protection.
How do you treat scalp sunburn?
There’s no cure for a sunburned scalp. But there are things you can do to keep yourself comfortable and decrease itching, burning, and peeling while your skin heals.
1. Stay out of the sun
If you notice your scalp is starting to turn red, or if you feel pain or tingling in your scalp, get out of the sun right away. This will minimize damage and keep you safe from a more severe sunburn. You can put on a hat, get under an umbrella, or go inside.
How can you protect your scalp from sunburn? It’s easy to forget about protecting the skin on your scalp. Wearing wide-brimmed hats and sunscreen powders or sprays can help.
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Signs of skin cancer: Getting a sunburn can increase your risk of skin cancer. See pictures of what skin cancer looks like.
Dealing with sunburn pain? From cool baths to vinegar compresses, these three people share tips on how to ease sunburn pain.
If you don’t notice your sunburn until after the fact, do your best to stay out of the sun over the next several days. If you need to go out, protect your scalp from further damage by wearing a hat.
2. Stick with cool showers
Cool (not cold) water can help relieve some of the pain and inflammation from your sunburn. So opt for cool showers until your sunburn heals. Avoid hot water, which can make your symptoms feel worse. After showering, gently pat your scalp dry. Try not to rub your scalp or tug at your hair.
3. Avoid sulfates and fragrance
Check the label on your shampoo to see if it contains sulfates. These are chemicals that help clean the hair and scalp. But until your sunburn heals, it’s best to use products that are sulfate-free. And look for products that are fragrance free, too, since both sulfates and added fragrance can irritate a scalp sunburn.
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4. Minimize hair styling
Skip the hair dryer and other hot hair tools, since heat can irritate the sunburned skin. And skip hair products, since many contain fragrance and other chemicals. It’s also a good idea to avoid hair styles that pull your hair back tightly, since this puts stress on your scalp.
5. Apply moisturizer that contains aloe vera or soy
Some ingredients naturally contain properties that can help with sunburn pain. Aloe vera may help cool the skin and speed up healing. Soy-based moisturizers also help ease sunburn pain. And research suggests that soybean oil may help with skin healing, since it locks moisture into the skin.
You can apply a gel or moisturizer directly to your scalp. It’s easier to apply these products when your hair is damp after a shower.
6. Take over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers
OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen and aspirin can help reduce pain and inflammation from a scalp sunburn. You can take the lowest recommended dose for 2 to 3 days to help with the discomfort.
What should you not put on a sunburned scalp?
A sunburned scalp can be painful and itchy while it heals. You might be willing to try anything to keep the pain at bay, but there are some ingredients you should avoid, including:
Petroleum jelly: While petroleum jelly, also called petrolatum, can be very useful for treating dry skin, you shouldn’t use it on sunburned skin. That’s because it can block pores and cause a skin infection. Popular products that contain petroleum jelly to avoid include Vaseline and Aquaphor.
Benzocaine or lidocaine: Ointments, creams, and sprays containing benzocaine or lidocaine can provide temporary pain relief for some skin conditions. But they can irritate a sunburn.
How long does scalp sunburn usually last?
Scalp sunburn usually lasts from 3 to 5 days.
The symptoms of scalp sunburn start within a few hours of sun exposure. Pain, redness, and swelling usually get worse over the next 1 to 3 days. After that, you may notice the skin flaking and peeling. This can look like dandruff. But you shouldn’t try to get rid of it by using antidandruff products or rubbing your scalp. These things won’t speed up your skin healing, and they may actually make things worse.
How can you prevent scalp sunburn?
Below are three ways to prevent scalp sunburn so you can safely enjoy your time in the sun.
1. Wear a hat
One of the best ways to protect your scalp from the sun is to keep your head covered. Choose a wide-brimmed hat that will also protect your face and ears.
While any head covering will help block UV light, some fabrics are more protective than others. You can look for hats (and other apparel) with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). This measures how well the material can protect your skin from the sun. The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) requires a UPF of 50 or higher to grant its seal of recommendation.
Even without a UPF seal, fabric can help protect you from the sun. Keep in mind that darker fabrics block more UV light than lighter fabrics. This is because they can absorb more of the sun’s rays. And tightly woven fabrics (think rayon, polyester, denim) block the sun better than looser-weave fabrics. Test the fabric by holding it up to the light. If you can see through it, it’s likely that it doesn’t offer much protection.
2. Wear sunscreen
When you apply sunscreen to your face each morning, be sure to extend it up into your hairline. For any exposed areas of your scalp — such as the part, or any areas of thinning — you can use a sunscreen stick or a powder sunscreen. Note that powder sunscreen doesn’t offer thorough protection for the rest of your body. But it can be a good choice for your scalp.
Some brands sell sunscreen specifically for the hair and scalp (often marketed as “hair mist”). These products are specifically made to protect the scalp without making hair greasy.
Whichever form of sunscreen you use, make sure it’s a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
3. Limit your time in direct sunlight
Limit your time outdoors when the sun’s rays are strongest, which are between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (in summer). Take breaks to find shade, and go indoors when you can.
When should you see a healthcare professional for a scalp sunburn?
Most scalp sunburns are mild and can be treated at home. But some people get more serious sunburns. Signs of a severe burn include:
Blisters on your scalp
Swelling over your scalp or hairline
Nausea or vomiting
Headache
Confusion
Fevers and chills
If you think you may have a severe scalp sunburn, it’s a good idea to contact a healthcare professional. They can help you make sure your skin heals well. They can also make sure you don’t have sun poisoning or a secondary skin infection.
Frequently asked questions
Hair loss after a severe scalp burn isn’t common, but it can happen. The stress of a severe burn can shock the hair follicles and cause temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium. This can happen a few months after the sunburn. Hair usually grows back within 6 months.
Hair is made up mainly of protein (called keratin), and doesn’t show sunburn in the same way skin does. But UV rays can damage hair and cause it to become:
Brittle
Frizzy
Dry
Prone to breakage
Lighter hair contains less melanin, so it’s more likely to be damaged by the sun. Over time, UV rays may also contribute to premature graying. You can protect your hair with a wide-brimmed hat or with a leave-in hair product that contains SPF.
The bottom line
The skin on your scalp can get sunburned if you don’t protect it when you’re outdoors. Most scalp sunburns are mild. You can often treat them at home with cool showers, aloe vera, and OTC pain relievers. While your scalp sunburn is healing, it’s also a good idea to use shampoo free of sulfates or fragrance, since their ingredients can irritate injured skin. To help protect yourself from getting a scalp sunburn in the first place, use sunscreen on your scalp, and keep your head covered when you’re out in the sun.
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References
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (2021). Must-try summer hair care.
Camacho, F., et al. (1996). Telogen alopecia from UV rays. JAMA Dermatology.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Sun exposure at work.
de Gálvez, M. V., et al. (2015). Human hair as a natural sun protection agent: A quantitative study. Photochemistry and Photobiology.
Dubrovsky, P. D., et al. (2009). Effects of woven fabric construction and color on ultraviolet protection. Textile Research Journal.
Fajuyigbe, D., et al. (2021). Sun exposure and Black skin. Current Problems in Dermatology.
Lin, T., et al. (2017). Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
MedlinePlus. (2022). Is hair color determined by genetics?
Riva, A., et al. (2009). Modeling the effects of color on the UV protection provided by cotton woven fabrics dyed with azo dyestuffs. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research.
Skin Cancer Foundation. (n.d.). Seal of recommendation.
