Sep 6, 2022

How to care for your hair in summer

Dr.-Sebastian-Podlipnik

After summer and sunny days I frequently hear people comment that their hair feels drier, finer and more fragile. Most of those people have protected their skin from the sun, but not their hair. The consequences of prolonged hair exposure to the sun are still a somewhat unknown topic. Therefore, today we discuss in this blog how to take care of your hair in summer .

How is hair damaged by the sun?

Generation of free radicals

The outer layer that covers the hair is called cuticle and is a keratin structure (a protein) that, in good condition, provides resistance, shine and softness to the hair, giving it a silky appearance . It works as a protective layer for the entire surface of the hair. The problem is that it is sensitive to external effects, both physical and chemical. Therefore, excessive exposure to the sun and the production of free radicals that it generates is the most common cause of structural deterioration of the cuticle that protects the hair . When this complex structure is damaged, the hair becomes more dull, fragile and brittle, and can even be one of the causes of hair loss in summer .

ultraviolet radiation

Hair, after continued sun exposure, suffers photochemical deterioration due to the loss of proteins and alterations in its pigment. Some studies have shown that UVB and UVA radiation can degrade cuticle amino acids (cystine or methionine).

☀️ UVB radiation: protein loss is caused by this type of radiation. After being absorbed by hair proteins, its structure is altered, causing an increase in hair fragility and breakage, loss of elasticity and, in general, loss of strength .

☀️ UVA radiation: UVA radiation, on the other hand, is responsible for destroying hair pigment through oxidation. The sun's rays act in a similar way to hair bleaching , not only changing the tone but also dehydrating it. The result is duller, more fragile and less shiny hair.

Our hair is covered by a very thin layer of fat that provides additional protection against damage caused by external agents. This layer helps us keep hair hydrated and shiny. Some studies show how ultraviolet radiation is capable of destroying up to 25% of this lipid barrier .

The sun and its relationship with scalp cancer

Exposure to the sun without protection can cause skin changes and serious diseases such as cancer. Although hair cancer does not exist, we must keep in mind that it does affect the skin of the scalp.

A malignant mole or melanoma can also appear on the scalp due to chronic sun exposure. The sun activates the melanocytes that produce melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its color. Over time, melanocytes can acquire mutations and generate malignant cells, developing melanoma.

Prevention, protecting ourselves from the sun, and early detection of this type of melanoma allows us to achieve a 99% 5-year survival rate for patients with this diagnosis.

How to care for your hair in summer

🌞 Avoiding exposing ourselves to the sun during the hours of greatest intensity is a guarantee of health, not only for the hair but also for the skin. However, if in a certain situation we are exposed to solar radiation, there are certain precautions we can take:

👒 Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat or cap , without forgetting to use the umbrella whenever you are on the beach.

🧴 Apply specific protectors to the hair and scalp. These protect our scalp from UVB and UVA radiation, thus preventing possible inflammation of the hair follicle. Additionally, many of them include moisturizing ingredients that help repair hair.

🚿 In your daily life you can also integrate routines that will help maintain a healthy scalp and hair , such as gently massaging the shampoo into the scalp during washing. When you rinse the shampoo, let it flow through the entire length of your hair and resist the temptation to rub it into your hair.

🧼 It is also advisable to use conditioner after shampoo . While shampoo only cleanses, conditioner provides different nutrients to the hair that protect it and make it look healthier.

🏖️ If you go to the pool or the beach, avoid getting your hair wet. After swimming in the pool, chlorine deposits on the surface of our hair and damages the cuticle, while in the sea, salt has a similar effect. If, in addition, we expose ourselves to the sun in these conditions, the cuticle is damaged much more easily. My recommendation is that after bathing you rinse your hair with clean water to remove any chemicals or salt that can damage your hair.

How to care for your hair in summer

Antioxidants, one more step to take care of your hair in summer

Antioxidants are compounds capable of delaying or preventing cellular damage caused by free radicals. Certain habits, such as sun exposure, stress or tobacco consumption, cause the appearance of these free radicals.

When our body generates these free radicals in response to these habits, premature cellular aging occurs that will manifest itself in our skin in the form of spots, wrinkles and skin fragility; and in our hair, in the form of loss of color and hair fragility.

Integrating the consumption of antioxidants into our diet is another powerful way to protect our hair from the adverse effects of the sun.

These powerful molecules are present in a multitude of foods for hair loss of plant origin: citrus fruits, nuts, carrots, tomatoes, garlic, green tea, cocoa or broccoli; but we can also find it in nutritional supplements of 100% natural origin such as Olistic .

The composition of this nutraceutical is designed for specific hair care and places special emphasis on antioxidants . Among its ingredients we can find powerful antioxidants such as astaxanthin , vitamin E and Resveratrol.

As has been shown in recent studies on the influence of antioxidants in hair sun protection , this type of ingredients protects cells from oxidative damage and the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.

They are, without a doubt, a powerful complement to protect the scalp and hair.

It is important to be aware of the effects of the sun on the scalp and hair and introduce healthy routines to protect them from external effects that can alter and damage it.

Combining the application of physical sun protection measures with a diet rich in antioxidants is the way to healthy hair both before and after summer.

Sep 6, 2022
Dr.-Sebastian-Podlipnik