Heatwaves can impact your scalp health. This blog will explore the logic behind that statement and suggest how you can take steps to avoid these challenges and stay fresh all summer.
Your scalp health is really important to the health of your hair. Not only that, but it can also have an impact on your skin wellness. And with Canada’s summer conditions varying in intensity from one day to another, you might be worried about its impact on your scalp health.
This post will look into some of the common issues related to this and how you can avoid them. So, here are some hair care tips for summer:
How Canadian Summer Weather Impacts the Scalp
With climate change, the seasons in every country in the world are becoming unrecognizable. Canada hasn’t been spared from this impact either. And here are some of the ways that the changes in Canada’s summer weather can be harmful to your scalp health:
Increased humidity and sweat buildup: A humid climate can lead to sweat buildup that causes bacteria to be trapped on your scalp and in between hair strands. And bacteria accumulation in the scalp causes pores to get clogged. And this might answer your question of “why does sweat irritate my scalp?”
Exposure to heat: Increased heat exposure can cause your scalp to produce more oil. This then causes an oily scalp, and your hair follicles are weakened. Therefore, an oily scalp can increase the chances of hair loss.
UV damage: Increased heat intensity can lead to a rise in exposure to UV radiation. And this exposure is one of the primary causes of scalp sunburn risks and increased oxidative stress on the roots of your hair.
Regional climate range: Canada is a country with a large geographical area. Therefore, major climate shifts across the country can be expected. This range can be observed throughout as the summer is humid in cities like Ontario, while in cities like Alberta, the summer heat can be drier.
Common Scalp Problems in Summer
If you are wondering how to protect scalp from summer heat, learning about the common scalp problems that would affect your scalp can be a good start.
Scalp Acne and Folliculitis
Scalp acne can be a common hair problem in the summer. The increased oil production and bacteria being trapped in the scalp can lead to this issue. These lead to an increasing amount of dead skin cells on the scalp, leading to inflammation of hair follicles.
Scalp acne can also lead to bumps and pimples developing on the scalp. Moreover, the inflammation of the hair follicles can also lead to folliculitis. This condition can lead to small bumps forming on the skin. These bumps are often pus-filled and can be itchy or painful.
Excessive Oil and Dandruff
The summer warmth increases the oil production in your scalp. And excessive oil production on your scalp can lead to dandruff.
And how does this occur? Dandruff can be caused due to a fungus called Malassezia. It feeds on the oil along hair strands, which causes discomfort. And an overgrowth of Malassezia in your scalp can lead to dandruff formation.
Increased Hair Shedding and Thinning
The exacerbation of hair loss can occur during the summer due to various reasons. Increased sweating due to humidity can lead to your pores getting clogged with excess oil and dirt. Thus, your hair roots weaken, making your hair more prone to falling out.
As more hair falls out from your scalp, it leads to shedding, and after excessive hair loss, thinning and hairline recession can be observed.
So, if you are wondering, can sweat cause scalp problems, hairfall can be a significant problem that cannot be ignored.
How to Tell if Your Scalp Issue is Seasonal or Chronic?
While the summer heat can be responsible for several scalp issues, thinking that it might be the only cause can be misleading and can lead to you ignoring more severe issues.
So, here is a list of things to help you tell the difference:
| Indicators | Seasonal Scalp Issues | Chronic or Medical Issues |
| Timing and Onset | Flaking, itchiness, and oiliness that only appear in the summer. | Issues persist throughout the year, instead of stopping with seasonal changes. |
| Locations on the Scalp | The effect is more widespread and concentrated around sweat-prone areas. | Hair loss in patches or thick, scale-like formations in specific areas. |
| How it Responds to Over-the-counter Treatments | Mild shampoos and other hair care products work. | Standard hair care products do not alleviate the problem. |
Table 1: Seasonal vs. Chronic Scalp Issues
And even if these differences do not offer easy-to-understand options, there can be clear visual indicators that you can watch for to tell whether your scalp problems are seasonal or in need of immediate attention. These indicators include:
| Symptom | Likely to be Seasonal | Medical Attention is Required |
| Mild flaky skin | Yes | No |
| Greasy scalp | Yes | No |
| Sudden bald patches | No | Yes |
| Painful sores and bumps | No | Yes |
| Thick, red plaques | No | Yes |
Table 2: Visual Signs to Watch for Seasonal or Chronic Scalp Problems
However, in the case of a more chronic problem leading to hair loss, there are treatments. These treatments can include hair mesotherapy (mesothérapie cheveux), and treatments for more concentrated issues such as Alopecia (Alopecie).
Lifestyle & Haircare Habits That Make It Worse
The scalp problems caused by the summer heat can be exacerbated by some lifestyle and haircare habits. These habits can include:
- Over-washing hair or not washing it enough: Not washing your hair enough can lead to dust particles and oil settling in your scalp, leading to scalp-related issues caused by the summer heat. Alternatively, overwashing your hair can lead to increased scalp dryness.
- Using heavy styling products in high temperatures: Heavy hair products can weaken the follicles when coming in contact with heat. This can lead to hair becoming thinner and more brittle.
- Wearing headgear for long hours: Wearing headgear such as helmets or tight hats for long hours can lead to dandruff, fungal infections, or even alopecia (alopecie), due to creating an environment unsuitable for hair health.
- Neglecting hair scalp sunscreen: Neglecting sunscreen for your hair scalp, especially on thinning hair, can cause your scalp to be vulnerable to the summer heat, leading to many scalp-related issues such as oily scalp and dandruff.
Summer Scalp Care Tips That Work
So, how to keep your hair healthy during the summer? Here is a list of treatments that can help keep your scalp safe from the summer heat:
- Try to wash your hair with clarifying shampoos at least once a week. Some clarifying shampoos include ingredients such as tea tree for dry hair, targeting specific scalp issues.
- Remember to rinse your hair after any activity that causes you to sweat.
- If you have an oily scalp that leaves your hair feeling greasy, dry shampoo can be a great choice for you.
- On the other hand, you can use natural scalp mists that can help soothe an irritating scalp and make your hair feel healthier.
And these include some of the most accessible treatments you can consider. You can even consider medicinal shampoos with ingredients such as salicylic acid or ketoconazole as scabs on scalp remedies.
Natural Remedies & Cooling Treatments
If you are concerned about the overuse of chemicals on your hair with regular shampoos and other over-the-counter treatments, you can also choose some of the following natural treatments:
- Scalp masks made from aloe vera.
- Rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar.
- Using herbal hair oils for controlling scalp inflammation. These natural herbal oils can include ingredients such as peppermint, neem, chamomile, cedarwood, sage, and so on.
Diets That Support Scalp Health & Reduce Hair Fall in Canadian Summers
It is not only scalp treatments to ensure that your hair remains healthy during the summer. Some additional dietary habits can help as well. Here is a list of ideal diet contents:
| Food types to consider | Examples |
| Iron-rich foods | Spinach, lentils, pumpkin seeds, and lean red meat. |
| Meals packed with protein | Eggs, chicken, Greek yogurt, quinoa, and chickpeas. |
| Healthy fats | Avocados, chia seeds, walnuts, and fatty fish. |
| Vitamin C and Antioxidants | Oranges, broccoli, kiwi, berries, and bell peppers. |
| Zinc and Biotin | Carrots, mushrooms, eggs sunflower seeds, and whole grains. |
Table 3: Food Groups to Keep Your Scalp Safe in the Summer Heat
Also, keep yourself hydrated. Hydration is good for maintaining hair health due to its impact on scalp elasticity as well as balancing out the oil in your scalp.
In Summary
This summer in Canada has been characterized by heat waves and high humidity levels in some areas. Thus, discussing the issues with your hair that the summer can lead to seemed appropriate.
So, the summer can impact the scalp by making it oily, or excessive sweating can cause your pores to close. Thus, leading to issues such as dandruff, hairfall, and so on. However, these can be mitigated with some simple treatments, including over-the-counter remedies or even natural treatments.
Need Scalp Treatment For How The Summer Treated Your Hair?
Looking for hair care treatments, such as treatments for Alopecia in Laval (Alopecie Laval), and Montreal? Contact us. Our experts will test your hair condition and offer the right treatment for you.
