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The UV index is not the warm sensation of sunlight on bare skin

99 points · 79 comments · evakhoury

  1. GuB-42 · · focus · HN ↗
    I think I got the worst sunburns when I didn't feel hot at all.

    Usually, it involves water, water cools you down, so you don't feel the heat, but it doesn't block UV, so you don't get the warning.

    1. koolba · · focus · HN ↗
      Overcast days are the worst offenders for sunburn because the melanin impaired don’t feel the heat of the sun to remind them they are going to roast.
      1. cortesoft · · focus · HN ↗
        I have always heard sunny snow days are the worst, because you feel cold, but the sun is still hitting you, plus reflecting off the snow to hit you twice.
        1. nephihaha · · focus · HN ↗
          You can get sunburn from light reflecting off water as well, in hot places. Maybe not on its own, but certainly in conjunction with direct sunlight.
      2. nephihaha · · focus · HN ↗
        Depends which part of the world you are in. I've never been sunburnt on an overcast day where I live.
        1. saltcured · · focus · HN ↗
          One of my worst sunburns was in San Diego on an extremely gray day. I should have known better.

          The right thickness marine layer can make the sky seem dim but it's like one massive UV diffuser from horizon to horizon.

      3. pazimzadeh · · focus · HN ↗
        They are also the worst because you get mostly UVA since UVB has a harder time penetrating through cloud cover
      4. bwnkl · · focus · HN ↗
        I agree that it very much depends on latitude and time of year. In most of Europe, overcast days usually don't present much of a problem for me, but I remember spending a day at the beach in Ecuador under very dense cloud cover and getting one of the worst burns I've ever had
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