Q. Can You Burn on a Cloudy Day?

A.

Actually yes you can. Up to 80% UV rays can travel through clouds, fog and haze. UV rays can even travel through glass... so that means that sitting near a sunny window is putting yourself at risk. That is why it is so important to use a sunscreen that protects you against the aging rays as well as the burning rays. And it should also be re-applied every two hours.

And don't think for a moment that you can sit under an umbrella all day and be protected. On the other hand, it is better than sitting unprotected under the blazing sun. I attended my daughter's baseball tournement just last weekend and slathered on the sunscreen on every part of me I could think of and then opened a golf unbrella. While I didn't burn any parts that were protected by sunscreen, I did notice that my scalp was slightly burned. That means that the rays penetrated the umbrella. Next time I will wear a hat AND sit under the umbrella.

Here's what you need to look for:

• a formulation that offers the highest SPF factor you can find. To date, I have found a lotion with a factor of fifty. That should buy you a little extra time if you apply too little. I should point out that at this time the SPF factor is only indicating the protection from the UVB rays. That means that while you might not burn, you have no idea how much aging is taking place!

• a formulation that offers both UVA and UVB protection. UVA protects against the aging rays, while UVB protects against the burning rays.

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