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Are you safe from sunburn, well protected under your umbrella, or in the shade? Unfortunately no, says science. Here’s why you should still protect yourself with cream.
Lying on the beach in the shade of your parasol, you think you’re safe and can do without sunscreen? You’re wrong. Against all odds, you can suffer from sunburn, without even being directly exposed.
UV rays reflect around you
Under your parasol or privacy screen, you don’t feel your skin heating up so much. But you are not protected from UV rays.Shade can reduce exposure to UVbut not entirely”, recalls the Dana Farber Cancer Institute website.UVB rays, the segment of ultraviolet light most harmful to skin, can strike indirectly, bouncing off UV-reflecting surfaces such as sand, water and concrete.” So, if snow is known to reflect the sun’s rays, this is also the case for soil, sand and even water.
On the beach, the parasol is therefore not enough to keep you sheltered: “LUV rays can reflect off sand and water at low angles to reach the area under the umbrella. The same goes for cloudy skies: they expose you to UV rays, even if you don’t feel the burn.
Protect yourself despite everything
To enjoy the outdoors while protecting yourself from sunburn, it is therefore essential to choose good quality materials that offer good protection against UV rays. But it is also a question of supplementing or opting for increased protection:
However, if the damage is done and you suffer from sunburn despite the parasol, the advice is the same as for “direct” sunburn.
- Take a cool shower or bath for 15 minutes;
- Apply a protective topical anti-inflammatory cream;
- Drink water to avoid dehydration.
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