Aging under the sun
It’s no surprise that whenever someone talks about the need to protect against ultraviolet (UV) light, it is usually regarding the risk of skin cancer. After all, skin cancer kills thousands of people each year. But did you know that UV light also plays a huge role in making us look older? From age spots to wrinkles to loose, saggy skin – UV light plays a role in all of it!1 When it comes to our hair, the evidence isn’t quite as clear. However, the information that is out there suggests that UV light is selfishly implicated in aging hair as well! In this article, we’ll talk about how UV light affects the hair and what kind of potential benefits you may see by guarding against the sun’s harmful rays.
Hair shafts get shafted
Have you ever left a cotton shirt or blanket in your car only to find it changed colors after being exposed to the perils of UV light through the window? Or have you noticed your once new and stylish outdoor furniture slowly fade in color and quality after living it out in the sun? You can think of the UV damage to your hair shafts in the same way! Some of the microscopic effects that UV light has on our hair shafts include:2
· Formation of oxymelanin
o Melanin is the pigment that causes the color in our skin and hair.
o When melanin is exposed to unprotected UV light, it forms oxymelanin.
o The presence of oxymelanin decreases the natural (and even dyed) coloring of our hair.
· Damage to hair lipids
o Lipids are special fatty acids in the hair that help maintain shine and strength.
o UV damage to lipids leaves our hair susceptible to breakage, dryness, and a dull appearance.
· Damage to the ‘glue’ of the hair shaft
o At a microscopic level, our hair requires a close relationship between small molecules called ‘disulfides bonds.’
o Since this isn’t a chemistry class, the important thing you need to know is that this weakens the hair shaft leading to fragility and an unkempt, sloppy hair doo.
To put it simply, your hair shaft literally gets shafted when you mix it with UV light. If this exposure happens day in and day out, you end up with dull, staticky hair. Fortunately, hair shafts are nonliving. Thus, in the same way, you can buy a new cotton shirt or new outdoor furniture, a UV-damaged hair shaft can be replaced over time. However, the same can not be said for your hair follicles.
$12.00
A professional pomade with the benefit of UV protection. Classic styling, medium hold, and a lightweight feel. Smooth, flexible, moisturizing, and rinses out clean. Made in the USA, Paraben-Free and Free Shipping.… read moreSol Style Pomade with UV Protection SPF 33
Disruption of the hair follicle factory
The beautiful locks of hair on our scalps, rugged beards on our faces, and even the less impressive hairs coming out of our noses and ears are embedded deeper into the skin through hair follicles. You could consider the hair follicle to be the workhorse of hair production as it is integral to hair growth and color alike. A few studies have looked at what happens to hair follicles at a microscopic level when they are exposed to UV light. Some of the findings included:3-5
· Damage to hair follicle DNA
o DNA damage can lead to the early death of hair follicle cells.
· Disruption of normal hair follicle pigment production
o Without the normal function of the pigment-producing area, called the hair bulb, it could disrupt regular hair color.
· Disruption of normal hair growth from within the hair follicle
o At multiple levels of the hair follicle, UV light changes the ability of the hair cells to grow normally.
· Changes to normal hair cycle signaling
o Hair normally goes through a predictable cycle, but with UV damage, the cycle favors a less active growth phase.
Overall, the studies looking into hair follicle changes from UV light are limited. However, the microscopic conclusions from several investigations demonstrate that UV light very likely plays a role in hair aging.
Does scalp sun protection stop hair loss?
It’s important to note that the underlying cause of gray hair and hair loss is multifactorial. One of the most significant contributing factors is our genetics, which is totally out of our control.6 The concept of hair follicle damage from UV light falls short when we think about the lack of hair loss in other areas exposed to the sun, like our arms and face. However, it is possible that UV damage to the scalp accelerates an already inevitable process of graying and hair loss unique to this area.
So, will guarding your scalp against UV rays stop hair loss? No. But if you’re looking to take advantage of things you can control in the fight to maintain youth in your hair, protecting yourself from harmful UV rays may be one option. Some practical ways to do this include:
· Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your scalp
· Avoid the sunniest parts of the day – between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM
· Use shade or umbrellas to your advantage
· Apply sunscreen of SPF 30+, including UV-protectant hair styling products
Protecting your scalp from UV radiation will not stop you from becoming old and gray, but there is a chance it may slow down the process. Furthermore, there is one thing that UV protection can help prevent that is much more dangerous than aging – skin cancer!
Sol Style Pomade with UV Protection SPF 33
$12.00
A professional pomade with the benefit of UV protection. Classic styling, medium hold, and a lightweight feel. Smooth, flexible, moisturizing, and rinses out clean. Made in the USA, Paraben-Free and Free Shipping.… read more
1. Yaar, M., and B. A. Gilchrest. “Photoageing: Mechanism, Prevention and Therapy.” The British Journal of Dermatology 157, no. 5 (November 2007): 874–87.
2. Draelos, Zoe Diana. “Sunscreens and Hair Photoprotection.” Dermatologic Clinics 24, no. 1 (January 2006): 81–84.
3. Gherardini, Jennifer, Jeannine Wegner, Jérémy Chéret, Sushmita Ghatak, Janin Lehmann, Majid Alam, Francisco Jimenez, et al. “Transepidermal UV Radiation of Scalp Skin Ex Vivo Induces Hair Follicle Damage That Is Alleviated by the Topical Treatment with Caffeine.” International Journal of Cosmetic Science 41, no. 2 (April 2019): 164–82.
4. Zuel-Fakkar, Nehal Mohamed, Ekramy Ahmed El Khateeb, Hala Sobhi Cousha, and Dina Mohamed Hamed. “Ultrastructure Study of Hair Damage after Ultraviolet Irradiation.” Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 12, no. 4 (December 2013): 254–60.
5. Lu, Zhongfa, Tobias W. Fischer, Sybille Hasse, Koji Sugawara, York Kamenisch, Sven Krengel, Wolfgang Funk, Mark Berneburg, and Ralf Paus. “Profiling the Response of Human Hair Follicles to Ultraviolet Radiation.” The Journal of Investigative Dermatology 129, no. 7 (July 2009): 1790–1804.
6. Ho, Chin H., Tanuj Sood, and Patrick M. Zito. “Androgenetic Alopecia.” In StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, 2022.
