Yes, it is still important to wear sunscreen after 7pm as the UV rays can still damage your skin, even if the sun is not visible.
So let us examine the query more closely
Yes, it is still important to wear sunscreen after 7pm as the UV rays can still damage your skin, even if the sun is not visible. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, up to 80% of UV rays can still penetrate your skin on cloudy days or after the sun has set.
Sunscreen should be applied every two hours, so if you plan on being outside during sunset or after, it’s crucial to reapply. In fact, the AAD recommends wearing sunscreen year-round, as UV rays can still harm your skin even in the winter or on overcast days.
It’s also important to note that certain medications, such as antibiotics and some acne treatments, can make your skin more susceptible to sun damage, so wearing sunscreen becomes even more crucial if you are taking these medications.
As the famous dermatologist, Dr. Howard Murad says, “Every day is a good day to protect against UV damage. It doesn’t matter if the sun isn’t shining, if you’re close to windows or even if you don’t go outside. The rays of the sun can do serious harm, even when you least expect it.”
To better understand how long it takes for certain activities to cause skin damage, here is a table of the UV Index and corresponding recommended protection measures:
UV Index
Protection Measures
0-2
Wear sunglasses and sunscreen if there is snow on the ground or you have particularly light skin tone
3-5
Wear sunglasses and sunscreen
6-7
Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
8-10
Seek shade, wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
11+
Stay indoors or in the shade during peak sun hours, wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
In short, it’s crucial to wear sunscreen after 7pm to protect your skin from UV damage, as well as year-round and during all outdoor activities to prevent skin cancer, premature aging, and other negative effects of sun exposure. As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
A common misconception about sunscreen is that you should only be applying and reapplying it when the sun is out and high in the sky. If you’re wondering whether you can get sunburn into the late afternoon or evening hours, the simple answer is yes.
The need for sunscreen after 6pm depends on the intensity of the UV rays and skin sensitivity. Although the intensity of the UV rays is lower in the evening, it is still necessary to apply sunscreen in the evening to be safe from beam radiation. In winter, beam radiation also exists, but their intensity is very low due to weather effects.
Especially during summertime when there’s longer daylight, the intensity of the UV rays doesn’t immediately drop after 6pm. Therefore, you may still need to apply sunscreen after 6pm depending on the circumstances. One factor that influences the need for sunscreen after 6pm is skin sensitivity.
Because it’s necessary to apply Sunscreen in the evening to be safe from beam radiation. So, you can use sunscreen after 6 pm. In winter, beam radiation also exists, but their intensity is very low due to weather effects. That’s why the sunsets early and we can see the dark in the evening.
Yes, UVA is pretty much as intense in summer as it is in the rest of the year. It is also as intense at noon as it is in the morning and late afternoon. This means that from sunup to sundown, January or July you’re exposed to the same skin-damaging dose of UVA. Plus, UVA penetrates your skin more deeply than UVB.
See the answer to “Do you need sunscreen after 7pm?” in this video
The sun’s rays may be weaker later in the day, before 10am and after 4pm as well as on cloudy days, but it’s still important to wear sunscreen when participating in activities such as swimming, skiing, and at the beach in order to protect exposed skin. While it may not be necessary to wear sunscreen after 7pm when not participating in such activities, it is still recommended to apply it to prevent skin damage.
Surely you will be interested in this
Is it necessary to wear sunscreen in the evening?
"It depends on how sensitive you are, but there’s definitely still UV radiation occurring if there’s still light." Yes, Dr. Stevenson said, the sun’s rays are typically strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Yet if you can see the sun, you could get burned, especially if you’re fair-skinned and burn easily, Dr.
What time of day do you need sunscreen?
The reply will be: The time when UV exposure is likely to be greatest is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during daylight savings time and during the late spring and early summer in North America. Nonetheless, protection from UV rays is important all year round. UV rays can be as strong on cloudy, hazy days as well as on bright, sunny ones.
Do I need to reapply sunscreen after 4pm?
Response: Do I need sunscreen after 4pm? Dr. Greenfield says you will need to apply sunscreen after 4pm during the summer. The UV rays are not as strong or direct after 4pm, but sun protection is still advisable at that time.
Should I wear sunscreen at 7am?
In reply to that: Yes, you should wear sunscreen all day, every day. The sun rays may not be as harmful from 6-8am, but it does not mean that you will not experience problems in the future. Problems such as early wrinkles, skin cancer and other skin problems.
Do I need a sunscreen after 4pm?
You need a sunscreen after 4pm and during fall and winter and I make it easy. Fight sun damage skin year-round with patient proven skin care products: I’m a dermatologist whose taken care of sun loving Californians for over 35 years and this is how I take care of my skin year-round – even fall, winter, morning and after 4pm!
How often should you use sunscreen?
Answer will be: Apply sunscreen generously to the rest of your exposed skin as well. Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours, or more often if you’ve been sweating or swimming. A sunscreen may be water-resistant, but no sunscreen is waterproof. To best protect your skin from UV light, wear sunscreen every day, even if you spend much of your time indoors.
Is it safe to wear sunscreen in winter?
Response to this: They think that they are safe because the sun feels weaker. Yes, the sun is different in the fall, winter and spring than it is in the summer. The sunburn ray, called UVB, is less intense. But fall and winter sun still damage your skin to cause wrinkles, skin thinning, sun spots, pigment problems such as melasma, and skin cancer.
Do you need a sunscreen if you're outside?
Every day if you will be outside. The sun emits harmful UV rays year-round. Even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate your skin. Snow, sand, and water increase the need for sunscreen because they reflect the sun’s rays.
Do I need to put on more sunscreen after 5 pm?
Response to this: That layer of sunscreen you put on in the morning won’t be effective in the late afternoon. But what about after 5 pm? Do you still need to put on more sunscreen after the most intense sun of the day is done? The answer to that is a resounding yes. The sun doesn’t set in the summertime until much later in the day.
Is sunscreen really necessary in the summer?
The answer to that is a resounding yes. The sun doesn’t set in the summertime until much later in the day. So, if the sun’s rays are still shining on your skin’s surface, the importance of sunscreen cannot be overstated.
Do you need sunscreen if you have a cloudy day?
Answer to this: The sun emits harmful UV rays year-round. Even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate your skin. Snow, sand, and water increase the need for sunscreen because they reflect the sun’s rays. How much sunscreen should I use, and how often should I apply it?
Should You Wear Sunscreen if you have sensitive skin?
Response will be: Given that they also are hypoallergenic, physical sunscreens may be a safer choice for some people who have sensitive skin. It is a good idea to wear sunscreen every day even if you work indoors. Sunscreen protects your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet, or UV, light. There are two types of UV light that can harm your skin: UVA and UVB.
