Do you tan under a patio cover?

On a warm summer day, nothing is as nice as seeking out some shade. Sitting comfortably under a parasol, a tree, or a canopy, it immediately feels a lot cooler and more comfortable. Many people think that you are safe from the sun in the shade, but is that really the case? Can you still get a tan in the shade? And more importantly, do you still run the risk of getting sunburned? We tell you all about it in this blog.

Can you get a tan under a patio cover?

Now you might be wondering: do you get a tan under a patio cover? The short answer is: yes, even in the shade of your awning can you get a tan. This is because UV radiation not only comes directly from the sun, but can also reach your skin indirectly via the environment. Part of the UV rays are reflected by surfaces such as the earth, sand or water. The floor choice for your veranda speelt dus een rol in hoeveel uv-stralen weerkaatst worden. Hierdoor bereikt voldoende uv-straling u ook in de schaduw om een kleurtje op te bouwen. Daarom is het heel belangrijk om uzelf ook in de schaduw goed in te smeren met zonnebrandcrème. Vergeet niet om u regelmatig opnieuw in te smeren. Zo voorkomt u niet alleen verbranding, maar beschermt u uw huid tegen vroegtijdige veroudering en het risico op huidkanker.

Can you tan or burn behind glass?

Veel mensen brengen de zonnige dagen door achter het raam, bijvoorbeeld thuis of op kantoor. Maar hoe zit het eigenlijk met de bescherming die glas biedt tegen uv-straling? Glas blokkeert een groot deel van de uvB-straling. Dit is de straling die verantwoordelijk is voor het bruinen en verbranden van uw huid. U loopt achter glas, dus is er een stuk minder risico om te verbranden. Toch is het belangrijk om te weten dat glas slechts ongeveer de helft van de uvA-straling tegenhoudt. Deze straling dringt dieper door in de huid en zorgt voor vroegtijdige huidveroudering en verhoogt het risico op huidbeschadiging op de lange termijn. Dus ook achter uw glass sliding door it is wise to protect your skin well. Therefore, keep this in mind if you want to build a veranda yourself.

Can you get a tan when it is cloudy?

Even when the sun is not shining, you can get a tan. Clouds do filter out some of the UV radiation, but not all of it. On completely overcast days, about thirty percent of the UV radiation reaches the earth's surface. So even in cloudy weather, you can easily get sunburned, as long as you are outside long enough. During cloudy days, it is even possible for the sun to be brighter than normal. When the sun briefly peeks through the clouds, UV light reflects off the surrounding clouds. As a result, the UV intensity is temporarily up to thirty percent higher than on a clear day. Cloudy weather can therefore be very dangerous for your skin.

Why do you get sunburned from sunlight?

Zonnestralen bevatten een flinke dosis energie. Dit voelt u als de warmte die op uw huid tintelt. Hoewel dit een fijn gevoel is, is de zon ook heel gevaarlijk. Door te lang in de zon te staan, kunt u heel ernstig verbranden. U zult natuurlijk denken: dat kunt u toch gemakkelijk voorkomen? Door in de schaduw te gaan zitten of een T-shirt aan te trekken? Zo gemakkelijk is het echter niet; het gevaar van de zon is deels onzichtbaar.

Indeed, it is not the visible light that poses a risk, but invisible [light] ultraviolet (UV) light. So you can get a tan right through your clothing and, if you are not careful, even get burned. Conversely, UV light does not reach everywhere that visible light reaches. A window blocks part of the UV light, while visible light passes right through it.

5 tips: how to get a tan under a patio roof

Fortunately, there are more than enough tips to get a tan safely under a patio cover. Below you can read 5 tips for getting a tan under a patio cover without getting burned.

Tip 1: choose the right moment

The sun's intensity is not the same all day long. During the midday hours, between 12:00 and 15:00, the sun is at its brightest. Try to stay out of the sun as much as possible during this period. It is better to enjoy the sun in the morning or late afternoon, when UV radiation is less strong. This prevents you from getting sunburned and having to stay out of the sun altogether.

Tip 2: always apply sunscreen

Sunscreen is your best friend if you want to get a tan without getting burned. Choose a cream with an SPF of at least 30. Apply generously, especially on sensitive areas like your face, ears, and shoulders. Also, do not forget to reapply after swimming or heavy sweating. It is wise to reapply every 2 hours, even when it is cloudy.

Tip 3: start slowly

Give your skin time to get used to the sun. So start slowly and protect yourself well with sunscreen. Try to prevent getting burned by slowly building up the number of minutes in the sun at a time.

Tip 4: drink enough water and take good care of your skin

Drink plenty of water while sunbathing. This is not only important to prevent dehydration of your body, but it also ensures that your skin stays nicely hydrated. After sunbathing, always use a body lotion or aftersun to soothe and care for your skin.

Tip 5: stay alert for changes in your skin

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the Netherlands. It is caused by too many hours in the sun without protection. Therefore, regularly check your skin for suspicious spots. If you find something you do not trust, contact your general practitioner or a dermatologist.

With this information you can get a tan under a patio cover. Did you find this an interesting blog? Then also read: how do you keep a patio roof cool? Read 5 tips here! Veel zon plezier!