The body only needs this amount of sun exposure to burn and double the risk of cancer.

Summer is the time of year when we in Spain are most aware of the importance of adequate protection against the effects of the sun , even though experts warn us that it should be done year-round.

It's a time of year when we tend to spend hours at the pool or the beach , but it's also difficult to avoid sun exposure while walking outside, which increases the risks. Getting sunburned is very easy if you don't take the appropriate measures, and this can increase the risk of developing skin cancer .

This is how long it takes to burn out

Every skin type is different and reacts differently to the effects of the sun , so it's not possible to generalize; the time it takes to burn varies from person to person. The number of minutes you can spend in the sun before your skin becomes damaged by a burn depends on your skin type.

In general, people with fair skin, blond hair, and blue eyes are considered to have a harder time tanning and can burn more easily after just 15 minutes of direct exposure. They tend to burn almost always, so using sunscreen is essential, as well as other additional protection.

In cases where people have combination skin, with darker hair and a complexion that tends to tan , sunburns are less common, but still frequent, and they tend to burn after spending about half an hour in the sun . The exposure time before sunburn occurs increases to 50 minutes in the case of Mediterranean skin , which tends to tan, has darker skin, and brown hair and eyes.

Those with very dark or black skin burn rarely or never, and can spend anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes in the sun without problems. That doesn't mean they shouldn't use sunscreen , although the SPF may be lower.

Sunburns increase the risk of skin cancer

Professional recommendations are aimed at preventing sunburns from occurring by applying sunscreen (with a higher protection factor in cases where the risk of sunburn is higher) half an hour before leaving home, reapplying it every two hours, wearing protective clothing, including wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses, or avoiding exposure during times of greatest risk .

Avoiding burns as much as possible is essential to not increase the risk of developing skin cancer , since a person has double the risk of developing melanoma if they have had five or more burns during their life, as stated by the Skin Cancer Foundation .

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the two most common non-melanoma skin cancers, and are usually found in areas most exposed to the sun , although this is not always the case. Melanoma is different; it is not so much a result of prolonged exposure to the sun; it is thought to be more affected by brief, intense sun exposure, such as severe sunburns, although there are other risk factors.

It seems clear that protecting our skin from sun damage can help us take care of it in the long term , which is why sunscreen is essential whenever we go outside, as is consulting a specialist if we have any questions. Also, remember that babies under six months old should not be exposed to the sun.

References

Sunburn: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia . (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003227.htm