A spot that appears on a visible area of the body, such as the arms or face, is easily noticed. Especially when it changes size, shape or color, for example, which are some of the warning signs of skin cancer. However, if the lesion is covered by strands of hair, it may not be noticed.
Skin tumors on the scalp usually take a long time to be diagnosed, which reduces the prospect of a cure. Non-melanoma cancer, the most aggressive version of the disease, is the type of cancer with the highest incidence in Brazil, representing 31.3% of new cases estimated for the three-year period 2023 – 2025, according to the National Cancer Institute (Inca) .
“The great ‘advantage’ of skin cancer is that it can be removed surgically if it has not metastasized and, in most cases, cured. But it is important that the doctor intervenes as soon as possible”, observes dermatologist Andrey Augusto Malvestiti, from Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein.
Other factors that need to be taken into consideration are that this part of the body is more exposed to the sun and is very vascular, contributing to the spread of cancer. “Furthermore, the moles that appear in this region end up suffering from friction when washing, brushing and manipulating the hair, which increases the risk of them becoming pre-cancerous lesions”, says dermatologist Claudia Marçal, member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD).
Hence why this region must be examined regularly. In most cases, the analysis carried out by the dermatologist during the annual consultation is sufficient. “Those with a lower phototype, with light skin and eyes, a personal or family history of skin cancer or actinic keratotic lesions, those rough, red sores that appear on the skin, including the scalp, need to make appointments more frequently” , advises Marçal, who is also a member of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the Brazilian Society of Dermatological Surgery (SBCD).
In addition to the doctor, another professional who can help with the mission of locating a tumor on the scalp is the hairdresser. “He looks at this region quite regularly, so it is interesting to ask him to stay alert and signal if he notices any changes”, advises Malvestiti.
How to protect yourself?
Hair strands are responsible for creating a kind of shield over the scalp, protecting it from excess sun exposure. But this region also needs protection, just like the skin on the rest of the body. Whenever possible, protect your head with a hat or cap when exposed to the sun.
“Those who have thinner hair, are bald or bald need greater protection, using hats and caps, preferably made with fabrics with protection against UV rays, especially in environments with greater exposure to the sun”, advises oncologist Ramon Andrade de Mello, vice-president of the Brazilian Society of Cancerology.
For those who have little or no hair, the SBD doctor also recommends the use of a spray sunscreen, with an SPF of at least 30, and PPD (protection value against UVA rays) 10, which must be reapplied every two hours. People with a lower phototype benefit from products with an SPF of 50 and above.
Those with an abundance of hair can resort to leave-in lotions with sun protection. “People who work in open spaces, drive for a long time or walk on the street a lot should take this care every day. Those who spend most of their time indoors and have thick, thick hair that covers their entire scalp only need to have this concern when they are exposed to the sun a lot”, explains Marçal.
This content was originally published in Scalp skin cancer: learn about precautions to protect yourself on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil

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