How to Prevent Yourself from Burning while Sunbathing

Whether on vacation on a faraway beach, or at the neighborhood pool, sunbathing seems to be a favorite pastime for many. However, it is well known that the sun's rays include ultra-violet (UV) light that with extended exposure can severely burn the skin. Repeated sunburns can age the skin prematurely and even lead to skin cancer. The following are some simple and straightforward ways to minimize the risk of burning while sunbathing.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cotton shirt
• Cotton pants
• Wide-brimmed hat
• Sunblock with SPF rating of at least 30 for UVA and UVB rays

1. Limit sunbathing to early morning and late afternoon. During these hours the sun is lower in the sky, which means its rays go through a thicker layer of atmosphere. This reduces the amount of UVA and UVB light hitting your skin per hour of exposure.

2. Before settling down for a sunbathing session, slather on a thick layer of high SPF sunblock. This should be at least SPF 30, and the label should show that it is good for both UVA and UVB rays. UVA and UVB are two segments of the ultra-violet light spectrum. SPF 30 implies that for every hour of protected exposure your skin should receive a dose of UV light equal to 2 minutes of unprotected exposure.

3. Each time you go swimming, when you come out of the water, repeat Step 2. Even if you don't go into the water, use your watch and reapply sunblock every two hours.

4. After you've been sunbathing for an hour or two, move to a shaded spot.

5. If the sun is getting close to overhead (higher angle than 45 degrees above the horizon) put on cotton pants, cotton shirt and wide-brimmed hat. These clothes will protect you from burning better than any sunblock lotion.

Tips & Warnings

• Sunbathing or tanning is not healthy for your skin. These steps will minimize the risk of sunburn, but may not prevent long-term skin damage or even cancer. The safest thing is to avoid exposing any more of your skin to direct sunlight than absolutely necessary, and even that, only for the shortest time possible.
• Sunbathing on a snowy surface such as at a ski resort is actually riskier than sunbathing next to the pool or on a beach. The sun's rays are reflected from the snow, increasing the rate of UVA and UVB light hitting you. Similarly, while swimming, the water can act as a sort of lens and concentrate your UVA and UVB dose. Since most people swim with minimal clothing, it is safer to limit time in the water as much as possible and to swim only very early or very late in the day. You can also consider swimming with at least a shirt over your swimsuit.