this is strange, but I have the feeling I have to apply more sunscreen to my arms and shoulders. OTOH I feel my legs and torso don’t need as much stuff, neither does my face.
When I sunbath I only wear my swim trunks and I lay on the ground, which means my legs and torso receive the same amount of radiation as my arms and shoulders.
I could understand that my arms and shoulders needed more sunscreen if I walked under the sun, but that’s rarely the case: I lay on the ground.
Does this happen to you?
my arms are thinner than my legs: do I need more sunscreen in the areas where blood vessels are thinner / muscles are leaner?
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Your… face doesn’t need sunscreen? That’s the opposite of my experience!
I know people that would easily get sun burnt on their nose. I suppose certain parts of your body would be more sensitive to the sun but I’m not certain what causes that. hoping someone with more knowledge and chip in.
I apply sunscreen to all parts of my body if I’m going out to the sun for long periods of time. I haven’t noticed certain parts of my body being more sensitive than others either.
slight tangent: Dermatologists all recommend against tanning and especially recommend wearing sunscreen if you’re going to be at a higher than 3/4 UV indexed sunlight for prolonged periods of time. It damages skin and encourages skin cancer.
It’s better to be safe than sorry. Apply sunscreen often and all over. Appearances are only skin deep. Also spray-on sunscreen is junk. Use a liquid sunscreen that is a minimum 50+ SPF.
I don’t use sunscreen on my legs, because they’re so Goddamn white I swear they reflect the sun’s rays right back at it. I can sit in the sun for hours and you’d never know it looking at my legs.
Even though you say you are laying on the floor, I do believe those areas receive more sunlight. Shoulders in particular can be hit by sunrays whether you are lying on your back or on your stomach. Additionally, it might not be much, but any time you spend standing makes the shoulders receive much of the light directly.
So are you saying that in your daily life you never walk around with your shoulders or arms exposed?
And are you saying that your arms/shoulders are more apt to burn than the rest of your body, or you notice that they tan more easily?
There are multiple factors that influnce a body part being more at risk of burning. The spots I need to protect the most are my nose, shoulders and ankles. These are all body parts that are constantly visible from above. Ankles are likely more vulnerable because they are usually covered, thus they don’t develop a tan gradually (unless you wear shorts and flip-flops a lot). Noses perspire, and perspiration amplifies burning because skin oils refract sunlight. And shoulders, of course, are probably the most visible body part from above.
Body parts that are in a direct line of sight with the sun for a lesser % of time are less at risk.
