How to Not Burn Skin at the Beach

Sunscreen is one method to help prevent a sunburn.

A day at the beach is always fun, but one thing to keep in mind is that you must protect your skin from the sun. UVA and UVB radiation from the sun can cause significant damage to your skin, leading to premature skin aging and skin cancer, among other negative effects. Fortunately, there are a variety of things you can do to prevent or at least mitigate the damage done to your skin by the sun.

Things You'll Need

• Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher
• Umbrella
• Protective clothing

Instructions

1. Apply sunscreen before you get to the beach or soon after you arrive. If you plan on being in the water, use a waterproof sunscreen. Using at least SPF 30 sunscreen is generally recommended, though your skin type is important in deciding what strength you need.

2. Apply a physical sun blocker, like zinc oxide, as an alternative to sunscreen. Sunscreens are divided up into physical and chemical blockers, and physical blockers, which reflect and break up UV light upon impact with your skin, can be just as effective as chemical sunscreens.

3. Reapply whatever sunscreen you choose to use every one to two hours, depending on how active you are. Any moisture will reduce the sunscreen's effectiveness, so make sure to reapply your sunscreen if you are consistently sweating or if you go swimming.

4. Shelter yourself from the sun by sitting under an umbrella and wearing protective clothing to hide your skin from the sun. Clothing with built-in UV protection is best, but any clothing is better than no clothing. Hats are also a garment worth bringing to the beach to help protect against sun burn. Sunscreen is a good preventative measure, but you might miss a spot or use an inadequate SPF by mistake, so it's always best to have a little redundancy.

5. Avoid the sun when it is highest in the sky, typically from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., depending on where you are and what time of year it is. You will get the largest doses of radiation from the sun during these times and as a result, will burn much faster.

References

• University of Cincinnati; Gimme Shelter - How to Stay Protected Against the Sun; Elma D. Baron; June 2011
• University of California; Sunblock; June 2011
• Brown University: Sun Protection
• Pennsylvania State University; What Does SPF Rating on Sunscreen Mean?; Chris Tachibana