Dermatology, Cosmetic Surgery, Mohs Micrographic Skin Cancer Surgery & Laser Surgery

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Monthly Archives: August 2015

Battling Sun Damage Head On: Protect Your Hair and Scalp

Almost everyone knows that wearing sunscreen is important for protecting your skin. But have you ever stopped to think about protecting your head? Wearing sunscreen on your face isn’t enough; your hair and scalp can also receive sun damage if they are not protected. It’s easy to forget this, but the risk of sun damage and skin cancer on your scalp is very real. Here is how to protect your hair and scalp using quality Skin PS sunscreens and skin cancer treatment.

Protecting Your Hairbikini woman in hat sitting in beach chair

The sun can damage your hair as well as your scalp. If you spend a lot of time out in the sun, you may have noticed your hair turning lighter. This is because strong UV rays dry out your hair, bleach it, break it down, and make it brittle and less manageable. Ideally, you should wear a hat to protect your hair and scalp when you’re out in the sun. However, if this is not an option, apply a leave-in conditioner with UV filter protection or a hydrating hair mask with UV protection to protect your hair from damaging rays of the sun.

Protecting Your Scalp

Your scalp is somewhat protected by your hair, but it is still vulnerable to sun’s ultraviolet rays. Before exposing your head to the sun, apply water-resistant zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sunscreens to your part line or over your whole head if you have fine hair or thinning hair. To prevent premature aging, dark spots, increased blood vessels, skin cancer, and more, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. Apply this at least 30 minutes before going out into the sun and reapply it every couple hours, especially if it’s a hot day or if you’ve been sweating or swimming. At Skin Physicians & Surgeons, our experts recommend Melashade SPF30 and Antioxidant Facial Sunscreen SPF30 to prevent and reverse sun damage.

Treating Skin Cancer

If you already have signs of sun damage on your scalp, there’s a possibility you may have skin cancer. Know how to recognize the signs of skin cancer as well as what to do if you suspect a problem. At Skin Physicians & Surgeons, we can examine a concerning area or conduct a complete skin examination for you. If skin cancer is detected on your head or neck, Dr. Sandra Lee at our practice offers Mohs Micrographic Skin Cancer Surgery. This procedure is a specialized treatment created specifically for skin cancer on the head or neck, and it has an extremely high cancer cure rate (96 to 99 percent) with minimal skin removal.

For more tips on how to protect your skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays, to find out how to get our recommended professional sunscreens, or to schedule a cancer treatment consultation, call us at 909-981-8929 or fill out our online contact form.

What’s New

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