How to Deal with a Scalp Sunburn

Co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: January 19, 2022 References Approved

It's easy to forget, but your scalp can get sunburned just like the rest of your skin! If it's too late and you've already got a red, tender scalp, the good news is there are things you can do to soothe your skin and quickly feel better. Read through our great suggestions for moisturizing and protecting your scalp as it heals.

1

Apply a cold compress to soothe your scalp.

Press a cold compress on your skin for temporary pain relief. Your scalp may feel hot even though you're not outside anymore. To bring some relief, make a homemade cold compress—fill a sealable bag 3/4 full with ice water and squeeze out the excess air before you close it. Wrap it in a damp towel and press it against your scalp until it doesn't feel cool anymore.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.}
- You can use a compress as many times as you like throughout the day.
- Don't have ice? For an alternative, wet a towel with cold water and fold it so it fits into a sealable bag. Freeze the bag for 15 minutes. Then, take it out and press the chilled bag with the towel against your scalp.^{[2]
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  Johns Hopkins Medicine
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2

Use cool water and gentle cleansers when you wash your hair.

Skip the hot water the next time you jump in the shower. Instead, use cool water which can soothe your skin and keep your shower short so you don't dry out your skin. If your scalp really hurts, it's fine to skip the shampoo and just let cold water run across your skin or you could wash your hair as long as you use a moisturizing, sulfate-free shampoo. Avoid using a dandruff shampoo since these have harsh chemicals.^{[3]
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- Sulfates are basically detergents that make shampoo suds up. They also strip your hair of its natural oils so they can be too harsh for sensitive, sunburned skin.

3

Moisturize your scalp while it's damp.

Massage a gentle conditioner onto your scalp to lock in hydration. Use a conditioner that doesn't contain dimethicone which is a silicone. Dimethicone can block the pores on your scalp and trap heat. Instead, use a dimethicone-free conditioner that will keep your scalp hydrated as it heals and rinse it out with cool water.^{[4]
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- If you want to moisturize your scalp in between washing, wet your scalp with cool water so it's a little damp. Then, rub some non-petroleum or non-oil-based lotion onto your scalp. Oil can block your pores which traps heat and sweat. There's no need to rinse out the lotion although your hair may look a little greasy near your scalp.

4

Apply aloe vera gel or 1% hydrocortisone cream.

Either of these gives soothing relief from itchiness and swelling. It's totally fine to use OTC hydrocortisone cream or aloe vera gel throughout the day for a few days or until your scalp feels better on its own.^{[5]
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- Don't use pain relievers or anesthetics that contain benzocaine on your sunburn since these can cause irritation or an allergic reaction.^{[6]
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  American Academy of Dermatology
  Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists
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5

Drink water throughout the day to moisturize your skin.

Your body needs extra water since the sunburn pulls fluid to the skin's surface. This means it's easier for you to get dehydrated. Keep water nearby and sip it throughout the day to stay hydrated and help your skin heal.^{[7]
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- Want an easy way to tell if you're hydrated? Pay attention to the color of your urine—it should be clear or very pale yellow. If it's bright yellow or amber, you need to be drinking more water.^{[8]
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  Cleveland Clinic
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6

Take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever.

Ibuprofen or acetaminophen reduces inflammation and discomfort. Follow the dosing recommendation on the package and take the medicine as soon as you realize you have a sunburn since it can really help reduce inflammation. You can keep taking the pain reliever until the burn feels better as long as you don't exceed the recommended dosage.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.}
- If you're treating a sunburn on a child under 16 years old, don't give them aspirin since they could develop Reye's Syndrome.

7

Leave blisters alone so they heal faster.

Keep your scalp dry and skip moisturizers on the blisters. You don't want to pop or drain them or they could become infected. Instead, just treat the sunburn around the blisters and don't put any products on the blisters themselves. They should heal on their own within a few days.^{[10]
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- Blisters are a sign of a second-degree sunburn so you may want to be in the habit of covering your head when you're out in the sun.

8

Let your hair dry naturally without heat-styling tools.

Heat tools like blowdryers or straighteners will probably feel uncomfortable. They also heat up your scalp which can really dry out your skin. Avoid using heat-styling tools for about a week or until your sunburn is totally healed. In the meantime, let your hair air dry.^{[11]
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- Skip the styling products, too, since most of them have chemicals that will irritate your sensitive scalp. Give your skin time to heal before you start using them again.

9

Stay out of the sun until your scalp heals.

Give your skin a chance to completely heal so you don't burn it further! If you do have to go outside, apply sunscreen to your scalp and pop on a hat. Choose a loose hat so it doesn't trap heat or put pressure on your sensitive skin.^{[12]
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- Don't forget to keep drinking water while you're out in the sun. Your body needs extra hydration when temperatures are high.
- Try to stay indoors during the peak sunny hours of 10 am and 4 pm.

Expert Q&A

Question

What can I do to make my sunburn heal faster?

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.

Mohiba Tareen, MD

FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Look for over-the-counter vitamin D and try to take it within an hour of getting your sunburn to speed up your recovery.
Question

Who do I do if it starts bleeding?

Chris M. Matsko, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.

Chris M. Matsko, MD

Family Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

Make sure that you are moisturizing the sunburn. It will get dry, cracked, and bleed if not moisturized.

Warnings

As tempting as it is, don't put ice cubes directly onto your scalp—you could damage your sensitive skin.^{[13]
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If you get a scalp sunburn and also feel confused, can't drink, or have a temperature of 104 °F (40 °C), you may have heat exhaustion. Get emergency medical attention since you're probably also dehydrated.^{[14]
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