The Short Answer from a dermatologist

Q: Does the hair on your head protect your scalp from skin cancer?

A:Not only does a thick, lustrous head of hair speak volumes about a person’s overall health. It also serves to protect the skin of your scalp from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.

If your hairline recedes, however, that protection goes along with it. Men and women alike should remember to apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to the crown of the scalp — or to look for a fashionable, wide-brimmed hat with sun-protective fabric, measured in UPF.

—Dermatologist Alok Vij, MD