The UV rays from the sun, sea water, and sand can alter the scalp and potentially strip it of its natural protective barrier. This then increases the risk of experiencing burns and itchiness. To avoid these discomforts, here are some preventative tips.
Scalp: How to prevent itching after the beach?
Summary
Published on January 27, 2024, by Pauline, Chemical Engineer — 4 min of reading
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Advice No.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 associated risks (hyperpigmentation, melanomas...). Moreover, the sun tends to dry out the epidermis and weaken the hydrolipidic film on its surface. The scalp then becomes more prone to irritations and itching.
Wearing a hat or a scarf on your head is therefore recommended at the beach. Once out of the water, it is wise to choose a shaded spot. Moreover, there are now sun care products specifically designed for the scalp, providing additional protection against UV rays.
Advice No. 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 that you thoroughly rinse your head and your hair when you return home after a swim in the sea. If you are on holiday and swimming every day, do not use shampoo every evening. 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 No. 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 afterwards. However, we advise you to favour loose hairstyles, such as certain braids or low buns. Indeed, hairstyles that are too tight can cause traction on the scalp and irritate it, leading to itching.
Advice No. 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 worth noting 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 moisturising ingredients like thealoe vera, and nourishing ones like the shea butter or the avocado oil.
Advice No.5: Hydrate your scalp.
The sun, sand, salt... are all factors 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 moisturising 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 the scalp to be moisturised without making it greasy.
