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Even though the weather is not exactly blazing at this moment in time, grey skies lull us into a false sense of safety. We might still have a fair bit of summer to come, so now’s a good time to pop some commonly-held sun-related myths, and some that we have heard in clinic over the years. Recognise yourself thinking any of these?
“I don’t go out in the sun that much, so I don’t need sun cream”
UVA slips through glass and car windows; everyday exposure still ages skin and elevates your cancer risk. Not so fun fact: your car windscreen affords good UV protection (unless you are driving a Ford Model T), but your side windows, according to one study, allow as much as 56% of UVA to get through, and sunroofs could be worse.
Read our article Can Your Skin Get Sun Damage Indoors?
“UV rays are blocked by glass”
Leading on from the above myth, yes, you are partially right. Glass blocks almost all UVB rays (the ones responsible for burning), but as mentioned, only 50-75% of UVA is blocked by building glass, (depending on the glass). That means if you’re sitting behind glass for an hour, you’re still exposed to up to half the UVA you’d get outside, – roughly the equivalent of sitting outdoors for 30 minutes in terms of UVA exposure.
“If it’s cloudy, I don’t need sunscreen”
Around 80 per cent of UV light cuts through cloud, so treat grey days like bright ones. Certain types of cloud offer less protection, so yes, even on cloudy days, broad-spectrum SPF is still a good idea, even more so between 11 am and 3 pm.
“Darker skin tones don’t need sunscreen”
Extra melanin offers only modest SPF and won’t stop DNA damage, hyperpigmentation or melanoma. People with darker skin tones still have to bear in mind that areas such as their palms and soles have less UVA blocking pigment. Also, UVB has the same action, regardless of your skin colour.
“You only get sun damage when you get sunburned”
UVB rays cause sunburn, but tanning without burning still injures cell DNA and speeds up wrinkles. UVA is silently penetrating beneath the surface, snipping collagen fibres and mutating DNA. Every unprotected session adds up.
“A base tan protects you from sun damage”
A tan will offer a small amount of protection against UVB, but it’s not so much the case for UVA. A tan is your skin’s distress signal. It should signal to you that you should now spend less time in the sun, not more.
“Sunscreen stops you getting vitamin D”
There is a little bit of evidence of this, but only in the lab. Real-world studies indicate that people miss areas, apply incorrectly, and still spend time unprotected. If you really are getting no sun exposure and are concerned about vitamin D, consider supplementing with 10µg. (We are doctors, but this does not constitute personal medical advice!)
“If I apply SPF in the morning, I’m protected all day”
Sweat, sebum, rubbing, and also time, work together to thin out sunscreen. After two to three hours, coverage will have dropped to below the factor on the label, sooner if you swim or towel‑dry. Reapply a shot‑glass amount to exposed skin every couple of hours and again after water or heavy sweating.
“Makeup with SPF is enough protection”
You would be correct in thinking this, but only if you put enough on. The manufacturer’s figures do not account for people adding a very thin layer of makeup. The SPF could well be lower than what you expect it to be. If this is you, then consider a base layer of SPF 30-50, before makeup is applied.
“Sunscreen causes skin breakouts, so it’s better to skip it”
Breakouts usually stem from heavy oils or fragrance, not the UV filters themselves. Choose a non‑comedogenic gel or fluid sunscreen and cleanse thoroughly at night; your pores will thank you. Skipping SPF leaves your skin defenceless against UV, which inflames sebaceous glands, deepens post‑acne marks and quietly erodes collagen. a far bigger price than the odd blocked pore.
“Sunbeds are safer than the sun”
No. Sunbeds blast your skin with UVA up to twelve times stronger than Mediterranean midday sun, plus a pulse of UVB to trigger pigment. Sunbeds raise your melanoma risk and speed up wrinkling and sagging. The only safe tan is the one that comes out of a bottle.
“I don’t need sunscreen because I only go out early morning or late afternoon”
UVB peaks at noon, but UVA ticks along from dawn to dusk, slipping through clouds and scattering off surfaces. Those steady rays add up from your early walks and after‑work errands, enough to darken pigmentation and thin collagen. Apply broad‑spectrum SPF 30, whatever the clock says, and top up if you stay out for more than two hours.
“Once summer is over, I can stop using sunscreen”
Cooler days do not switch off ultraviolet. UVA levels hold nearly steady through autumn and winter, and the smaller share of UVB still reflects off water, snow and other surfaces. Cumulative exposure keeps chipping away at collagen and can deepen pigmentation, so apply a broad‑spectrum SPF to your face and hands every morning, whatever the temperature.
“If I’m using skincare actives like retinol or acids, I don’t need to change anything regarding sun exposure”
Retinol, glycolic acid and similar actives thin your skin’s outer layer and speed up cell turnover, leaving fresh cells with less natural UV defence. This heightened photosensitivity means the same sunlight can trigger redness, peeling and skin damage more quickly. Daily sunscreen and two‑hourly top‑ups are still non‑negotiable whenever actives are in your routine.
“A sun tan clears up acne, so it’s good for my skin”
A quick sunbath may dry surface oil and flatten redness, but the effect is short‑lived. UV ramps up sebum, thickens dead skin and can trigger fresh breakouts. It also drives post‑inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring that linger long after spots fade. A non‑comedogenic broad‑spectrum sunscreen keeps pores calmer than chasing a sun tan
“If I stay in the shade, I don’t need sunscreen”
Yes, shade blocks direct rays, but this does not account for the UV that is bouncing off sand, water and concrete and reaching skin from the side and below. Up to half of incoming UV can still find you under a beach umbrella or tree canopy, so broad‑spectrum SPF remains essential whenever you are outdoors.
“SPF 50 means I can stay out in the sun twice as long”
SPF is not a kitchen timer. In the lab, SPF 50 filters about 98% of UVB, yet sweat, towel‑drying and missed patches erode that figure downwards, fast. UVA is not part of the SPF score at all. SPF relates to UVB rays, so look for broad‑spectrum cover as well. Reapply every two hours and sooner after swimming, no matter what the number on the bottle claims.
“Once my skin is damaged from the sun, there’s nothing I can do”
Pigmentation and fine lines can soften with the right plan. Skin treatments can help to build collagen, antioxidants mop up reactive oxygen species, and clinic treatments such as RF microneedling, and fractional devices lift dark spots and texture. Daily broad‑spectrum SPF locks in the gains by stopping fresh damage as new cells surface.
“Water‑resistant sun cream means no need to reapply after swimming”
Resistance only lasts the stated minutes and vanishes after towel drying. The stated numbers do not take into account the contact bathers have with one another, and other surfaces, which lessen the coverage. Reapply after swimming is good advice.
“Last year’s bottle of sun cream is still fine, – expiry dates are just marketing”
Sun cream Filters degrade with heat, oxygen and time, and you will not notice the degradation. Bin any suncreams you had from last year’s trip, and respect dates on the bottle. You want predictable protection.
“If your clothes cover you, the skin underneath doesn’t need SPF”
Standard cotton T‑shirts let up to 40 per cent of UVA through, and pale, looser-weaved clothing offers even less defence. Choose dark, tightly woven fabrics or clothes with a certified UPF rating if you are going to rely on your clothes to protect you, and still apply sunscreen to any skin not under properly protective material.
“Once a sunburn peels, the fresh skin is reset and damage is gone”
Peeling shows whole layers of cells have died and lifted away – the DNA mutations that triggered that injury stay in the surviving cells and raise future skin‑cancer risk. Persistent structural damage has been detected months after a single burn, so carry on with the daily broad‑spectrum SPF, but even more diligently than before. If you have peeled, the fresh skin needs more protection.
“Mineral filters stay put all day, so topping up is pointless”
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sit on the surface. Sweat, sebum and a quick rub of your T‑shirt wipe the film away. Laboratory water‑resistance tests still assume you reapply at least every two hours and straight after swimming or heavy sweating, – the same rule as for chemical sunscreens.
“A few sun‑bed sessions before a holiday prep the skin and stop burning”
This is a common misconception. A pre‑tan gives, at best, SPF 3, nowhere near enough for proper UV protection. Indoor tanning before age 35 hikes melanoma risk by roughly 60 per cent, some higher*. https://www.cancertodaymag.org/spring2013/melanoma-indoor-tanning-link-and-restrictions/
Damage from sunbeds adds to anything you pick up on the beach. Again, a bottle of self‑tan is the only safe pre‑holiday colour.
“Ordinary lipstick blocks the sun”
Standard lipsticks give little UV protection once the pigment wears thin. Lips lack melanin and burn easily, so swap to a balm or tinted stick with an SPF 30 label for reliable cover.
Contact Us
If you have sun damaged skin, or need any skin-related advice, please get in touch with us at The Doctors Laser Clinic. We are here for you.
