5 Sneaky Ways You May Be Getting Sun Damage

When it comes to protecting ourselves against the sun, we all know to stay in the shade, put on sunscreen, and wear our favorite hats. As helpful as those things are, however, there are still a variety of ways that UV rays can find their way to our skin, so we have to be especially cognizant to look out for these sneaky sources of sunlight.

We can still get sun damage even if we aren’t doing something as obvious as laying out at the beach, so to protect ourselves, it’s best to know the number of ways that we are unsuspectingly getting sun exposure. If you want to take that extra step to protect your skin, consider these five sneaky ways you are getting sun exposure.

1. In The Car

Just because you are inside the car doesn’t mean you’re shielded from the sun’s rays. Most people have more sun damage on the left side of their face and their arms from the UV rays that come in through your window while driving. This sun exposure is cumulative, which makes it important for you to lather on sunscreen even for your commute.

2. At Work

It can definitely be bright and cheery to sit by a window at work, but if you sit at a desk that’s near a lot of sunlight, you’ll need to be cautious. Normal glass blocks UVB rays, but it still allows UVA rays to come through. UVA rays can still cause sun damage like cancer and wrinkles, so be sure to put on broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both of these rays and cover up your skin whenever possible.

3. In The Water

Most people know to put on sunscreen before heading into the pool or ocean, but what you may not realize is that you need to reapply sunscreen more frequently when you’re in the water. Like snow, bodies of water reflect the UV rays, and because you’re getting wet, your sunscreen is more likely to quickly wear off.

4. On A Cloudy Day

The sun is behind some clouds, so that means you’re in the clear, right? Wrong. Eighty percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays pass through the clouds, making it important to still protect yourself even if it’s a gloomy day.

5. On Your Scalp

Applying sunscreen generally consists of lathering it over your whole body, but most people don’t pay attention to their scalp. You can still get skin cancer on your scalp, so it’s important to wear a hat or find a sunscreen that can be applied to the scalp, especially if you have thin hair or are balding.

Photo by bjaglin