The UV rays from the sun, sea water, and sand can alter the scalp and potentially strip it of its natural protective barrier. This increases the risk of experiencing burns and itchiness. To avoid these discomforts, here are some preventive tips.
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Scalp: How to prevent itching after the beach?
Summary
- Advice #1: Protect your scalp from the sun
- Advice #2: Thoroughly rinse your hair after swimming
- Advice #3: Avoid tight hairstyles
- Advice #4: Refresh and soothe your scalp after the beach
- Advice #5: Hydrate your scalp
Published January 27, 2024,
by
Pauline, Head of Scientific Communication
—
4 min read
Topics:
Advice #1: Protect your scalp from the sun.
Prevention is better than cure. Just like the skin, the scalp needs to be protected from sunburn. Indeed, whether one has short or long hair, the scalp remains exposed to UV rays and all their risks (hyperpigmentation, melanomas...). Moreover, the sun tends to dry out the epidermis and weaken the hydrolipidic film present on its surface. The scalp then becomes more prone to irritations and itching.
Wearing a hat or scarf on your head is therefore recommended at the beach. Once out of the water, it is wise to choose a shaded area. Moreover, there are now sun care products specifically designed for the scalp that provide additional UV protection.
Advice #2: Thoroughly rinse your hair after swimming.
Sand and sea salt can also dry out and irritate the scalp, leading to itching. To reduce the risks, we recommend thoroughly rinsing your head and your hair when you return home after swimming in the sea. If you are on vacation and swimming every day, do not use shampoo every night. Indeed, this could strip the hydrolipidic film of the scalp and contribute to irritation. Shampooing every other day is sufficient. In the meantime, only a thorough rinse with clear water is necessary.
Advice #3: Avoid tight hairstyles.
It is often recommended to tie up your hair before swimming to prevent it from tangling and becoming difficult to style afterward. However, we advise you to favor loose hairstyles, such as certain braids or low buns. Indeed, hairstyles that are too tight can cause tension on the scalp and irritate it, leading to itching.
Advice #4: Refresh and soothe your scalp after the beach.
Even when taking precautions, it's not uncommon to experience slight itching on the scalp after sun exposure. It's important to note that this could be due to simple irritations and not necessarily sunburn. Regardless, it's beneficial to soothe the scalp and replenish the skin's lipids after sunbathing. To do this, you can apply an after-sun care product to your scalp after showering. This type of treatment soothes the skin and is often based on moisturizing ingredients like thealoe vera, and nourishing ones like the shea butter or the avocado oil.
Advice #5: Hydrate your scalp.
The sun, sand, and salt... are all elements that exacerbate the natural water loss from the skin and scalp, and weaken its hydrolipidic film. To compensate for this water loss and restore the latter, we recommend applying a moisturizing treatment to your scalp at least once a day during the exposure period. These treatments are often in the form of a serum and allow for scalp hydration without making it greasy.
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