Do you actually need sunscreen for your scalp?

If you part your hair and spend a full day outside—whether at the beach or a ballgame—you’re probably familiar with the sting of a sunburned scalp. It often makes itself known the next day, especially when water hits your head in the shower.

By now, most people understand the importance of wearing sunscreen on exposed skin, particularly during warmer months when UV exposure is higher and days are longer. What’s less obvious is that your scalp needs protection, too—not just in summer, and not only if you’re bald.

To break down why SPF matters for your scalp, we spoke with Denise Gallo, APRN, a board-certified nurse practitioner with extensive dermatology experience.

Why do you need scalp sunscreen?

First off: Your scalp is skin, and any part of it that is exposed can be just as susceptible to sun damage as the rest of you.

Gallo says, “Skin cancers that occur on other areas of the body can develop on the scalp, making it an important area to protect from the sun.”

In addition to skin cancer, you can experience more immediate discomforts if you don’t protect the scalp, such as dryness that leads to itching and flaking—not to be confused with dandruff—or a sunburn, which “can present with redness, warmth, and even blisters, eventually leading to peeling,” Gallo says.

Who needs to worry about protecting their scalp from the sun?

Everyone. If you’re thinking to yourself, “but I have a full head of hair to protect my scalp,” you’re not excluded from the need for scalp protection (though you’ll have less to do). If you part your hair or it falls with a cowlick, or you don’t fully coat your face up into your hairline, those areas are exposed to potential sun damage.

People with very light skin tones or with light hair and eyes are more at risk for sunburns, Gallo says, but anyone can develop skin cancer. And naturally, if your hair is thinning, you have bald patches, or you choose to shave part or all of your head, you’re putting your scalp skin at greater risk.

How can you prevent a scalp sunburn?

Wear a hat for all-over coverage

You cover at least some of the skin on your body with clothing to shield it from the sun’s UV rays—Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) clothing for surer protection. The same is true for your scalp.

“The best sun protection for your scalp is to cover your head,” Gallo says. “Hats offer the most protection, especially with UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) 50+.”

What’s more, if you opt for a wider brim, you’ll get bonus face and neck coverage.

To go the hat route, take your pick from dozens of stylish options:

Use sunscreen on exposed scalp

If you prefer to go hat-free, choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, as you would for your body, to adequately protect your scalp. You can use any product you’d use for the rest of you, providing it has a high enough SPF.

“Sprays are easy to apply. Sticks are also helpful for easy application,” Gallo says. “Choose a form that will work for you.”

But if you’re concerned about making your hair look oily or otherwise prefer not to put body products on or in your hair, go with a spray that’s formulated for the head or a stick formula that you can glide onto your part or around your hairline.