Human Hair as a Natural Sun Protection Agent: A Quantitative Study

    February 2015 in “ Photochemistry and Photobiology ”
    María Victoria de Gálvez, José Aguilera, Jean-Luc Bernabó, Cristina Sánchez-Roldán, Enrique Herrera-Ceballos
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    Studysummary The researchers reported that hair offers a measurable protective barrier against UVB and UVA radiation, which increases with hair density, thickness, and melanin content, suggesting a role in skin cancer prevention.
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    The 2015 study "Human Hair as a Natural Sun Protection Agent: A Quantitative Study" conducted by María Victoria de Gálvez and her team at the University of Málaga, Spain, investigated the photoprotective effect of hair. The study found that hair provides a significant barrier against both UVB and UVA radiation, with the level of protection increasing with hair density, thickness, and the presence of melanins. This was the first study to quantify the sun protection factor offered by hair, introducing the term hair ultraviolet protection factor (HUPF). The researchers concluded that hair should be recognized as an important natural sun barrier in the prevention of UV-induced skin cancers.
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