Summertime is fast approaching, and with it comes the age-old question – is it safe to go out in the sun after a hair transplant?
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure during which hair follicles from one area of the body are transplanted in the bald or thinning area of the scalp. The transplanted hair can be taken from the back or sides of your head, which is called the donor area. Transplanted hair usually falls out within a few weeks but regrows permanently within months.
If you are seeking a long-term remedy for hair loss, you should consider hair transplantation. Please meet with Dr. G. K. Sharma at QHT Regrow Hair Clinic, a state-of-the-art hair transplant clinic in India.
Dr. G. K. Sharma is an accomplished hair transplant doctor who has conducted successful hair transplants for over 30 years. He says one of the most common questions people seeking a hair transplant ask is how soon they can go out and enjoy the sun.
How does the sun impact your scalp from healing post hair transplant?
Care of the transplanted hair after the treatment is crucial to its effectiveness. Our daily activities are centered on the sun. Sun exposure is therefore unavoidable. However, even if you are moving from one place to another or working outside, you must exercise caution after a hair transplant. Sunbathing should be avoided entirely as it will harm the health of your hair.
The renowned hair transplant surgeon, Dr. G. K. Sharma, says that the newly transplanted hair follicles should be capable of rooting themselves during the healing process.
In some cases, this causes the surgery to fail or requires further care. Sun-generated perspiration hinders recovery and has a detrimental impact on your hair transplant.
Both the skin and the hair follicles will be damaged by sun exposure. Sun exposure is detrimental to healing and should be avoided until recovery is complete.
How does sun exposure damage the skin?
Light-sensitive incisions are created during the hair transplant procedure. The sun’s ultraviolet rays are harmful to the incisions while they are tender and going through the healing process.
Dr. G. K. Sharma, an eminent hair transplant specialist in India, cautions that disruptions to the healing process can lead to excessive scarring. The pigmentation of your skin is produced by chromatophores, which are pigmented cells located just beneath your skin. These chromatophores make your skin darker and shield it from the sun’s rays.
However, following a hair transplant, these pigmented cells either die or become dormant. It requires several months for them to regenerate in the freshly transplanted grafts. Consequently, there is a higher chance of solar damage to the transplanted skin.
How can sun exposure harm the newly grafted hair follicles?
It is not only the surface layer of the skin that is impacted during a hair transplant; multiple skin layers are also affected. The top layer of the epidermis recovers comparatively faster. However, the deeper tissues may take considerably longer to heal.
When your skin is exposed to direct sunlight, the rays can enter the epidermis and damage the hair follicles and underlying tissues, which are still healing. The outcome is a hair transplantation failure, flushing your time and hard-earned money down the drain.
How long after a hair transplant before I can enjoy the sun?
Dr. G. K. Sharma, among the preferred specialists for a hair transplant in India, recommends that you should use varied levels of caution for at least 4 months.
- Wear a comfortable hat for a period of time, and it must completely cover the transplant area.
- Please wait till the incisions are completely healed before using any styling products or gels.
- Please exercise caution and heed the post-operative instructions to improve your chances of a successful transplant.
You do not have to confine yourself, but you can cover your head with hats, scarves, and other items. However, watch out for any sweating.
Acclaimed hair transplant doctor Dr. G. K. Sharma cautions that sweat is detrimental to the surgical site’s ability to heal; furthermore, sweating may potentially result in infections.
While you should stay out of the sun, this does not mean you have to stay indoors on bright days. But when you go outside, make sure that your scalp is fully covered.
Conclusion
People use sunscreens to protect their skin from the sun, but many do not realize that excessive exposure to the sun does not only affect your skin but can also damage your hair. So you need to protect your hair from sun damage as well.
Yes, we all love the summer days, but there are a few things you need to take into consideration to make sure your summer is fun and safe after a hair transplant. Your scalp and hair are particularly fragile and vulnerable after a hair transplant procedure, so you must take utmost care while the hair follicles and your scalp are recovering and strengthening.
The sun can damage your skin after a hair transplant by causing the skin to become irritated, red, and inflamed. Additionally, the sun can cause the transplanted hair follicles to become damaged and fall out. So remember to follow the guidelines provided for hair transplant aftercare strictly.
If you or a loved one is considering getting a hair transplant, please contact us at the earliest opportunity.
At QHT Regrow Hair Clinic, you can avail of safe, reliable, and effective treatment options under the highly skillful expertise of Dr. G. K. Sharma and his team of experienced doctors.
