Sunshine/Summer - Can this cause issues?

[fluffy123]

Whats the general thought on sitting out in the sunshine, possibly getting sunburnt and the issues that that can cause towards losing hair? Could that make any difference? It was just something I thought about yesterday whilst enjoying a pint in the sun with my summer hat on!

I mean, without excessive burning of the scalp but with exposure to the sun for a few hours every day over a holiday, for example, could this wreck any gains that you could have made or would the difference be minimal?

 

[iwantperfection]

this is a good question.

I always thought sun was good for hair. In the past on hols and stuff the sun has laways made my hair look thicker. Maybe its just cause it makes it sun bleached. I dont think it would destroy gains. It may even help minoxidil absorption as the scalp is sweaty all the time.

Im heading to spain to see family in a week and staying for 3months. Ill be getting roasted everyday. I plan to come back with enough proscar in my suitcase to kill a large elephant

 

[macimate]

What evolutionary reasons would the sun have to cause bad hair?

Look at people from Portugal, Spain and countries in the south, they have been exposed to alot of sun for generations but still these people tend to have the thickest, densest and best hair.

 

[JohnC43]

What evolutionary reasons would the sun have to cause bad hair?

Look at people from Portugal, Spain and countries in the south, they have been exposed to alot of sun for generations but still these people tend to have the thickest, densest and best hair.

It doesn't have to serve an evolutionary purpose, it burns and inflames the scalp causing sun poisoning, I am sure that can damage the hair follicles.

 

[BodyDysmorphic]

IMO sun exposure in moderation should not hurt your hair

the key term is moderation

when out in the sun for extended periods it is important to use sunscreen and try not to get burt
getting sunburn is not a good thing and should try to be avoided

gradual sun exposure is the best to acquire a desired tan

ps the sun makes you age faster "wrinkles"

cheers

 

[JLL]

UV light significantly damages the skin and the hair follicles.

The evolutionary argument doesn't really hold, since photodamage is the main contributor to skin aging as well. Skin wrinkling and hair damage aren't that important in the evolutionary sense.

http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=17728939

The aim of this study was to compare the susceptibility of hair with different melanin content (virgin white, blond and dark-brown) to photodegradation, evaluating changes on hair color and mechanical properties. Light exposure was carried out with a mercury-vapor lamp for up to 1800h. It was observed that color changes are different for each hair type and dependent on the wavelength range. Breaking elongation and breaking strength were affected in all hair types, mainly by UVB radiation. Results show that the melanin type and content of each hair is not the only parameter related to hair damages caused by sun exposure.

http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=19138021

Hair is a very important for our self-confidence as well as a very important part of appearance and self-concept. It reflects our personality and hair loss or hair damages are considered aesthetic imperfections and social handicap. Outward part of the hair is a "hair shaft" keratin fiber structure sensible to external effects whether they are mechanical, physical or chemical. Excessive sun exposition is the most frequent cause of hair shaft's structural impairment. Photochemical impairment of the hair includes degradation and loss of hair proteins as well as degradation of hair pigment. Hair protein degradation is induced by wavelengths of 254-400 nm. UVB radiation is responsible for hair protein loss and UVA radiation is responsible for color changes. Absorption of radiation in photosensitive amino acids of the hair and their photochemical degradation is producing free radicals. They have adverse impact on hair proteins, especially keratin. Melanin can partially immobilize free radicals and block their entrance in keratin matrix. It also absorbs and filters adverse UV radiations. Therefore melanin is important for direct and indirect protection of hair proteins. Protecting the cuticle is very important for keeping hair shaft's integrity. One can achieve that by avoiding noxious impacts or by implementation of hair care products with UV filters. Nowadays major studies and researches are conducted in order to create hair care products that prevent hair damage.

http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18408872

Sunlight, especially ultraviolet (UV) light-induced hair damage is difficult to avoid during daily life. Concerns about the effects of ultraviolet light on hair are emerging recently. These photochemical changes mainly come from damage to hair proteins and melanins. In this study, we performed experiments to find the patterns of morphological and biochemical changes in UV-light-induced damage to hair by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and hair protein analysis. In our results, morphological damage is significant in UVB-irradiated hairs, while biochemical changes are greater in UVA-irradiated hairs.

http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=15157906

Ultraviolet and visible radiations are known to damage hair. However, quantitative data relating damage to hair type, proteins and color to the radiation wavelength are missing. We studied the effect of UV plus visible, UVA plus visible, visible mercury-vapor lamp radiation and sunlight on (blended) virgin dark-brown, blond and red hair and (one head) virgin black and curly dark-brown hair. All hair types showed a substantial increase in protein loss in water after lamp and sun irradiation. The damaging effect of UVB was about 2-5 times higher than that of UVA plus visible radiation, depending on the hair type. Significant color changes were also observed in every hair type, after lamp and sun irradiation, being more pronounced for the light colored hairs. The luminosity difference parameter was the major contributor to the hair color changes, but significant changes in the red-green and yellow-blue parameters of every hair were observed. In this case, the damaging effect is ascribable mainly to UVA radiation. No significant changes in the mechanical properties or topography were observed in any case. We discuss these results in terms of hair type and composition and melanin types.

 

[Cassin]

We get these threads for every season...

 

[hairrific]

This is one of those obvious truths and advice that most of you won't get or understand until you are much older and it is to late, but here it is anyway for what its worth:

"Do you think it doesn't hurt the hair and scalp? I have even seen 20 somethings or older with ugly sun spots on their face or arms and their back and shoulders! You think those are cute freckles? No that is freaking skin damage from your freaking trip to the freaking beach when you were freaking young and dumb some years back!

For blemish free skin (no I ant talking pimples kids!), stay out of the sun. Simple. Do it for cosmetically clear skin and cancer free skin. And yes the scalp is skin too!

Currently I am seeing a derm for actinic keratosis on the scalp. Had a crew cut when I was younger, never got sun burned up there, just to much once or twice is all it took. My shoulders used to be white, sometimes tan, but pure clear skin. Now they are spotted with sun spots. This is just an cosmetic or aesthetic issue, no cancer. Yet.

Still want to bronze in the sun? Knock yourself out, I am sure you will look and feel good about it for a while at least.