Scalp and hair health deteriorates during the summer

Scalp and hair health deteriorates during the summer

Strong UV rays → Scalp and hair damage
During the summer, people often go to beaches or swimming pools for vacations and enjoy various outdoor activities. However, caution is required as the scalp and hair are susceptible to damage from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays.

First, if you have thin hair or are experiencing hair loss, ultraviolet rays can directly hit the scalp and damage the hair follicles. Additionally, various impurities such as sebum and sweat can clog the pores of the scalp, hindering the smooth supply of nutrients to the hair. This weakens the hair roots, which can consequently worsen hair loss symptoms.

Next, ultraviolet rays can cause hair to lose elasticity and change color. Keratin, a protein that makes up hair, has the characteristic of being easily destroyed when exposed to heat. Just as people often experience dry, brittle hair and split ends after prolonged use of a hair dryer, the strong ultraviolet rays of summer act in a similar way. In particular, when wet hair is exposed to UV rays while swimming at the beach or pool in the summer, it is more susceptible to the effects of UV radiation than when dry, which can lead to more severe hair damage.

Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays affects hair color. Melanin in hair not only determines hair color but also plays a crucial role in protecting it from UV rays. However, prolonged exposure to strong UV rays can actually destroy melanin pigments, potentially causing a change in hair color. According to a domestic study observing hair color changes caused by UV rays, healthy hair was exposed to UV light and its color was checked at 10-minute intervals. The results showed that the color change increased with longer exposure times, exhibiting the greatest difference after 60 minutes of exposure.


Hot and humid weather → Worsening of inflammatory scalp conditions
Hot and humid weather increases the secretion of sebum and sweat, which can worsen inflammatory conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis and folliculitis.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized primarily by red spots (erythema) and the shedding of keratinocytes from the skin surface (scaling). It mainly occurs in areas with well-developed sebaceous glands, such as the scalp, face, armpits, and chest. Although the exact cause of seborrheic dermatitis has not been clearly identified, factors such as sebum itself, fungal infections, abnormalities in neurotransmitters, epidermal proliferation disorders, medications, or nutritional deficiencies are cited as possible causes. Hot and humid weather during the summer stimulates the sebaceous glands, leading to increased sebum secretion, which can exacerbate seborrheic dermatitis.

Folliculitis is a bacterial infection that originates in the hair follicles, which surround and nourish the hair beneath the skin, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most common causative agent. Symptoms of folliculitis include the formation of pustules filled with inflammatory cells and fluid around the follicles, or raised papules on the skin. During the summer, the humid external environment often causes bacteria in the inflamed area to multiply rapidly, leading to a worsening of symptoms.


Highly acidic water → Increased scalp acidity, weakening of the scalp's stratum corneum
In the case of children, playing in water features such as fountains, ponds, and artificial streams can increase scalp acidity and weaken the stratum corneum.

The water quality of water play facilities is determined by factors such as E. coli, hydrogen ion concentration, and turbidity. Among these, hydrogen ion concentration is related to scalp health. To protect our scalp from external stimuli such as bacteria and viruses... pH A weakly acidic film of about 4.5 to 5.0 is formed.

However, the water quality management standards for water play facilities are pH With a pH of 5.8 to 8.6, it is higher than the pH of the scalp. As such, prolonged exposure to water with a pH higher than that of the scalp, or the continuous use of scalp-related products such as shampoos with high pH levels, irritates and further weakens the stratum corneum of the scalp. Since the stratum corneum plays a role in preventing various irritants, such as bacteria, fungi, and allergens, from penetrating the skin, a thinning of this layer makes it easier for bacteria and fungi to invade the scalp.