Summer is already upon us, and that means we have to deal with the heat and also the sun for several months. One of the ‘rituals’ we do (or should do) is to have sunscreen and cover our face, shoulders and back, since they will be exposed to the sun. The problem is that there is one part of the body that directly receives a large amount of sunlight and which we usually ignore completely. We are logically talking about the scalp.
a myth. We tend to think that hair acts as an impenetrable shield against ultraviolet radiationas if it were a hat, but science suggests that this is a quite dangerous myth. And they go even further by pointing out that leaving the head completely abandoned in the face of inclement weather causes quite serious injuries to develop in the long run.
They don’t stop repeating it. Something that we must be clear about now is that hair does not completely block UV radiation. As point the American Cancer Societyprolonged exposure to these rays is the main risk factor for all skin cancers.
But if we go a little further, there is cancer beyond the famous melanoma, which is the one we all have in mind. For example, we have basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma that tend to frequently appear in areas with greater historical sun exposure, that is, the head.
Who is most at risk? Logically, this is something that is evidently triggered in people who have baldness or very thin hair, although in general it affects everyone. Areas like your hair part, receding hairline, or cowlicks are blind spots where the sun hits your bare skin directly.
The alopecia. Science emphasizes the importance of using protection, since it has been shown that there is a direct relationship between scarring alopecia, chronic inflammation of the scalp and the development of skin cancer.
Furthermore, it has also been seen that when there is inflamed tissue due to suffering certain forms of alopecia and this exposure to UV rays is also added to it without a physical barrier to protect it, an ideal environment is created for the appearance of a carcinoma. In these cases, photoprotection stops being an aesthetic recommendation and becomes a medical necessity.
How to protect it. Here the imposition of a physical barrier is the best advice that can be given, as they point out different organisms specialized in skin cancer, since they point out that the most robust and effective protection does not come in a bottle, but in the form of a wide-brimmed hat or cap.
In this way, sunscreen remains a necessary complement that presents a very clear way: how to apply it without ruining your hair? And here the key is to use sprays designed specifically for this area, such as transparent sprays or mineral powders.
Early detection. Beyond prevention, surveillance It is also very important for early detection of any stain that may be suspicious. This is something that is especially indicated for those people who do not use any type of sun protection and are exposed to the sun a lot throughout the day, such as a worker or a street cleaner, among many other professions.
Here, with a simple comb or the air from a dryer, you can separate the hair into sections to look for new spots or wounds that do not heal, since it may be an indication that something is wrong and you need to visit a specialist doctor for evaluation.
The experts. Here they are quite clear that we have a big problem, especially Dr. Cristina Vico, dermatologist at the GEDET of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, who in statements collected by elDiario.es point because “the scalp is one of the areas most exposed to solar radiation throughout the year and, however, one of the most forgotten.”
To this end, this expert also points out how important it is to use sun protection anywhere on the body and, above all, to check yourself well, since early detection is one of the best treatments that can be applied to any sign of carcinoma.
Images | Patrick Robert Doyle
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