Avoiding sunburn may seem like a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. Even during the hot summer months, when your sun exposure level is high, you can take steps to ensure you are protected.

How long does it take to get sunburned? Can you get sunburned through a window or water? These are important questions to know the answers to so that you can avoid sunburn in the future.

Sunburn is caused by harmful UVB rays from the sun. This type of light ray causes more damage than just sunburn and skin aging. It is often linked to skin cancers. When we talk about how to protect your skin from the sun, we are not only considering how to avoid sunburn but also how to limit your risk of developing skin cancer.

Sunburn prevention is an important topic for people of all ages. Explore our blog for more sun safe tips and advice so that you can avoid getting sunburned again.

Is Sunburn Dangerous?

If you’re wondering how long it takes to get a sunburn, it depends on factors such as your skin type and the UV index. Sometimes it can occur in 15 minutes of exposure or less. So, how bad is sunburn for you?

Sunburns cause more than just the visible damage you see to your skin. The UVB rays are responsible for sunburns that are more intense, causing damage to the actual DNA in your skin cells. Over time, this damage at the cellular level can lead to skin cancer.

Can you get skin cancer from one sunburn? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. Any length of sun exposure could be causing damage, even if you don’t actually burn from it. Consistent over-exposure to the sun, especially at a young age, increases your risk of developing skin cancer.

Is It Bad to Go Outside With a Sunburn?

If you have a sunburn, one of the worst things you can do for your skin is going back out into the sun. Skin that is burned or recently healed from sunburn is extremely sensitive, so it's best to stay inside. If you can't avoid the outdoors entirely, there are some safety precautions you can take.

Drink plenty of water and avoid excess activity, as sweating does make a sunburn worse by irritating the skin that is trying to heal. You can stop a sunburn from burning by applying a sunburn moisturizer with aloe vera or taking a cold shower.

Wearing UPF clothing and applying sunscreen on sunburn can help minimize further damage. It's important to note that sunscreen only protects against sunburn if used correctly. Keep the following best practices for sunscreen use in mind:

• Choose a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 (50+ is preferred)
• Apply enough sunscreen to cover your body (roughly 1 ounce)
• Reapply sunscreen every 80 minutes at the minimum and every 40 minutes if swimming or sweating
• Avoid using expired sunscreens

How to NOT Get Sunburn at the Beach: 6 Simple Solutions

Figuring out how to not get tan or sunburned at the beach may seem like an impossible task, but you can be prepared and protected with the following steps.

Sun Protective Clothing

You may not realize that you can get sunburn through your clothing. One of the easiest ways to avoid getting tanned and sunburned is to start integrating sun protective clothing into your wardrobe. This option is great for the whole family, whether you're spending the day at the beach or needing daily sun protection.

Coolibar’s UPF 50+ clothing incorporates sun protection into each and every fiber, and it never washes out. You can rest assured knowing that all of our clothing and accessories provide a minimum UPF rating of 50. We offer sun-safe solutions for men, women, and even kids & babies! Sun protective clothing is easy to use and gives you the peace of mind you need, with many benefits, including:

• Sun protecting minerals embedded in every fiber
• Tight weave construction offers maximum sunlight blockage (UPF 50+)
• Permanent sun protection (no washing or wearing out)

Apply Sunscreen Often (and Thoroughly)

Applying sunscreen is another relatively easy and effective method for preventing sunburn, but only if used correctly. When buying sunscreen, look for one with at least SPF 30, and be sure to apply enough to cover your entire body. Sunscreens must be reapplied every 80 minutes. If you are actively swimming or sweating, you should aim to reapply every 40 minutes.

Sunscreen is one of the most common methods for preventing sunburn, and for good reason. It can be used for the entire family and has advantages, such as:

• Solution for exposed skin
• Prevents sunburn and other skin damage
• Easy to apply and readily available

Create Your Own Shade

Although you can get sunburn in the shade from light reflecting off other surfaces, it’s better than direct sun. Creating a shaded spot can also give you relief from the heat. If staying in the shade is possible, it’s an excellent solution for minimizing sun exposure. Coolibar makes it easy with sun umbrellas you can take with you on the go.

• No direct UV radiation
• Lowers risk of sun damage and sunburn
• Easy solution

Know When the Sun is Strongest

Understanding when the sun is the strongest and what sun hours to avoid can make a big difference. The sun’s UV radiation is usually at its peak between 10 am and 4 pm. If possible, staying indoors during this time frame is a simple solution.

• Eliminate possibility of sunburns
• Decrease risk of developing skin cancer
• One way to prevent tanning of the skin

Wear a Hat That Protects Your Neck

Shielding susceptible areas from the sun's harmful rays is another simple way to stay safe when you want to be outdoors. The face and neck are sensitive areas that a hat can cover perfectly.

Even on a cloudy day, the sun's UV rays still break through, so wearing a hat will minimize UV exposure and skin damage. Coolibar offers a wide variety of sun hats with UPF 50+ protection so you can feel confident and protected from the sun.

• Keeps your head and neck cool
• No mess and easy to incorporate into your day
• Range of style offerings for everyone

Wear Sunglasses With UV Protection

Your eyes are another critical area to protect from the sun, not only because the skin around your eyes is particularly thin and sensitive, but because UV damage in your eyes can affect your vision. Prolonged exposure to UV rays has been shown to increase the likelihood of developing vision issues such as cataracts and macular degeneration. When looking for sunglasses, check for 100% UVA/UVB protection.

• Provide comfort from the bright sun for your eyes
• Minimize UV damage to your eyes and vision issues
• Simple sun-safe solution

Sunburn Prevention FAQs

Those are some simple solutions to reducing sun exposure and avoiding sunburns. Here are some commonly asked questions about sunburn prevention.

Can You Get a Sunburn Underwater?

Although water does partially block UV rays, most of those rays do travel below the water's surface and can cause sunburn to your skin. Water is also an excellent reflector of light, so while you are swimming, you are likely getting more intense sun exposure than you would out of the water.

Can You Get Sunburned in the Shade?

Sticking to the shade will significantly reduce sun exposure, but it depends on the quality of the shade. Due to light reflection from other nearby surfaces, it’s still possible to get a sunburn in the shade with long enough exposure.

Should You Wear Sunscreen Even If You Don’t Burn?

Sunscreen doesn't just prevent sunburn. It also deters the other damaging effects the sun can have on the skin. Wearing sunscreen will minimize the risk of developing skin cancer and slow skin aging, so it's essential to wear sunscreen, even if you don't burn.

Shop Coolibar’s Sun Protection Solutions

The sun can cause severe damage to one of our body’s most vital organs, our skin. Learning how to prevent sun damage is key to a long and healthy life.

Living sun-safely is important. That’s why we developed the most technical, elegant sun protection you wear so that you can enjoy life under the sun. Check out our blog for more sun safety tips, and shop our latest styles for men, women, and kids & babies.