What should you know about sun spots on a bald head?

A bald scalp has little hair to shade the skin, making it easy to miss cumulative sun exposure. A typical sun spot is a flat tan or brown patch, often with a clear edge. Scalp lesions may be harder to inspect, especially behind the crown or around thinning hair. Roughness, thickening, crusting, bleeding or a sore area can point to sun damage that needs a clinical look rather than cosmetic treatment.

Wear a closely fitting hat in strong sunlight and apply broad-spectrum sunscreen to exposed scalp, including the parting and hairline. Reapply after sweating or water exposure. Ask someone you trust to check hard-to-see areas and photograph a mark in consistent lighting. If a clinician confirms a sun spot, options may include cryotherapy, IPL photofacial, picosecond laser treatment or a chemical peel, depending on the lesion and scalp condition.

Arrange a dermatology review for a spot that is new, changing, rough, itchy, painful, crusted or bleeding. Seek prompt assessment for a scalp sore that does not heal or a lesion that grows noticeably. Do not shave over a suspicious area repeatedly or remove a crust yourself, because this can obscure useful changes.

Can you examine the full scalp, including areas hidden by thinning hair? Does the surface need treatment or sampling? Which sunscreen and procedure will work safely with my scalp sensitivity and hair routine?