Free Shipping on orders $49+ | FREE Nourishing Haircare Sample Set in every order!

How Often To Reapply Sunscreen

How Often To Reapply Sunscreen

Sun

With the weather warming up outside, it is important for you to protect yourself against the sun. Even though the summer is a great time to enjoy the great outdoors, it is also critical for you to protect your skin against UV radiation. While it is important for you to apply sunscreen before going outside, it is also critical to reapply sunscreen every two hours, or more if you’re swimming or sweating.

When you are looking for sunscreen, it is important to identify a product that has a high SPF rating. You also need to find something that will protect against both UVA and UVB radiation. No matter how strong the sunscreen is, it will eventually wear off. As a result, you may suffer a serious sunburn if you do not reapply sunscreen.

If you are wondering how often to reapply sunscreen, there are a few important points to keep in mind. How often do you need to reapply sunscreen? Learn more about how you can protect your skin below.

How To Apply and Reapply Sunscreen

First, it is important to make sure you apply sunscreen properly. A few key points to keep in mind regarding the initial application of sunscreen include:

  • Make sure you choose the right sunscreen. You should find something that has a high SPF rating. You should also find sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation.
  • When you apply sunscreen, make sure you are generous with the amount of sunscreen you use. It is always better to apply too much sunscreen than too little.
  • If you have sensitive skin, or if you are applying sunscreen on a baby, you need to take a look at the ingredient list. Make sure you find a sunscreen that is appropriate for your skin type.
  • Make sure you apply sunscreen to areas of your body that people frequently overlook. For example, you cannot forget to apply sunscreen around your eyes, behind your ears, and on top of your feet.

If you apply sunscreen before you go outside, it should last for a few hours. On the other hand, how often do you have to reapply sunscreen? If you are wondering how often to reapply sunscreen, the FDA says that you should reapply sunscreen every two hours. Therefore, it is important for you to keep track of the time to make sure you do not forget to reapply sunscreen. If you are swimming or sweating, you may need to reapply sunscreen more often.

How Much Sunscreen Do I Need?

If you are wondering how much sunscreen to use, there are a few important points to keep in mind. It’s important to note that everyone is different, but you need to make sure you put sunscreen over your entire face and body. If you are using a spray sunscreen, be careful about spraying it in your face. You do not want it to get in your eyes. To avoid getting sunscreen spray in your eyes, you may want to spray the sunscreen on your hands, rub your hands together, and then apply sunscreen to your face.

You need to be generous with the amount of sunscreen you apply. If you do not apply enough sunscreen, you might not have adequate sun protection, which could result in serious burns and long-term skin damage, particularly if you spend a lot of time outside.

According to the FDA, it is important for you to use enough sunscreen to cover your entire face and body. You need to avoid getting sunscreen in your eyes or in your mouth. On the other hand, you should still apply sunscreen around the edges of your eyes. You should apply sunscreen to your lips as well.

How Long Should I Wait Before Going Outside?

After you apply sunscreen, you need to give the sunscreen approximately 15 minutes to attach to your skin. Some types of sunscreen will absorb into your skin. If you go outside immediately, you could start sweating, which could cause the sunscreen to slide right off of your body. As a result, you will be vulnerable to the sun’s rays. Furthermore, if you jump in the swimming pool immediately after applying sunscreen, the sunscreen will roll right off. Therefore, you need to wait for a few minutes before you go outside.

When Should I Reapply Sunscreen While Swimming or Sweating?

You need to apply sunscreen no matter what you are doing outside. If you are sweating, you must make sure you have adequate sun protection. Furthermore, jumping in the water will not protect you from the sun. You still need to wear sunscreen. So, how often are you supposed to reapply sunscreen if you are swimming or sweating?

If you are wondering how often to reapply sunscreen, you need to apply it more often if you are swimming or sweating. Even if a sunscreen is marked as waterproof, it is not actually waterproof. It simply means that it will not wash off the instant you jump into the water. On the other hand, all sunscreen will wear off eventually, no matter what you are doing.

If a sunscreen has been labeled as water-resistant, it has been tested and found to provide some additional protection if you are in the water. In general, if sunscreen is labeled as water-resistant, it will be effective for between 40 minutes or 80 minutes if you are swimming or sweating.

How Often Should I Reapply Sunscreen Indoors?

If you are spending a lot of time inside, you do not need to reapply sunscreen as often. If you are wondering how often to reapply sunscreen indoors, it is helpful to listen to the experts. If you are spending a lot of time away from the sun, but you will still be going outside from time to time, you should reapply sunscreen every four to six hours. If you are spending a lot of time sitting near a window that receives direct sunlight, you may need to reapply sunscreen more often.

It is important to understand that even though you are inside, you are not necessarily protected from the sun. If you are not receiving direct sunlight, you probably will not develop a sunburn. On the other hand, if you are sitting in a window that receives direct sunlight, it is still possible for you to develop a serious sunburn. That is why you need to apply sunscreen on areas of your body that might be exposed. Then, do not forget to reapply sunscreen every few hours.

How Does SPF Affect Reapplication?

If you are trying to figure out which sunscreen is best to protect yourself, it is important to pay attention to the SPF rating. SPF stands for sun protection factor. The number will let you know how long it takes the UV rays to burn your skin while wearing sunscreen.

The higher the SPF rating, the more protection it will provide. In general, you need to find sunscreen that has an SPF rating higher than 15. There are plenty of sunscreens that have an SPF rating that is even higher than that. If you select a sunscreen that has a low SPF rating, it may not provide you with the same level of protection you are looking for. On the other hand, if you pick a sunscreen with a high SPF rating, you can markedly reduce your chances of suffering a serious sunburn when you spend time outside.

There is a common misconception that if a sunscreen has a high SPF rating, you do not need to reapply it as often. That is not the case. No matter how high the SPF rating might be, it is still important for you to reapply sunscreen every few hours. If you spend a lot of time sweating or swimming, you need to reapply sunscreen more often than that. That way, you don't end up with a sunburn.

 

When Are UVA/UVB Rays the Highest?

There are certain hours of the day when the sun is more intense than others. When the sun is first coming up in the morning, or when the sun is setting in the evening, it is not nearly as intense as it is during other times of the day. According to the FDA, the sun's rays are most intense between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM. Therefore, it is important for you to limit the amount of time you spend outside during those hours.

Even though there might be some times when you cannot avoid the sun in the middle of the day, it is important for you to protect yourself. That means making sure that you reapply sunscreen every few hours. Ideally, you should avoid being in direct sunlight in the middle of the day. If you do need to be outside, make sure you apply sunscreen all over the entirety of your body. Having the right sunscreen can reduce your chances of suffering a serious sunburn.

What Happens if You Don’t Reapply Sunscreen?

If you do not reapply sunscreen as often as you should, there are several major risks you are taking. Some of the biggest risks of not reapplying sunscreen from time to time include:

  • You markedly increase your chances of suffering a serious sunburn. Sunburns are not immediately obvious. You may not notice that you have a major sunburn until the next morning. Sometimes, sunburns cover the entirety of your body, which can be particularly uncomfortable.
  • You could also end up with serious skin damage. Sometimes, this skin damage can even lead to premature aging. If you want to protect the vitality of your skin, it is important for you to wear sunscreen when you go outside. Do not forget to reapply it every few hours.
  • If you do not reapply sunscreen, you also increase your chances of developing skin cancer. Some types of skin cancer, such as melanoma, can be very aggressive. You can reduce your chances of developing skin cancer if you reapply sunscreen every few hours.

Sun Safety Tips

You must make sure that you protect yourself when you go outside. Some of the most important tips you should keep in mind include:

  • Try to wear protective clothing. A lot of people try to wear as little clothing as possible when they go outside because they do not want to overheat. You can protect yourself against the sun if you wear high-coverage clothing.
  • You must make sure that you hydrate when you go outside, always bring a water bottle along with you.
  • Try to limit the amount of time you spend outside. In particular, try not to be outside between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM. These are the hours when the sun’s rays are the most intense.
  • Always apply sunscreen before you go outside. Then, be sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours. Use sunscreen that has a high SPF rating and that protects against UVA and UVB radiation.
  • Make sure you wear sunglasses when you go outside. You can reduce your chances of developing cataracts.

Sunscreen Reapplication FAQs

Some of the most common questions people ask about sunscreen include:

How long does SPF 50 last?

No matter how high the SPF rating might be, sunscreen begins to wear off after two hours. Therefore, even if you are using SPF 50 sunscreen, you need to reapply it every two hours. If you do not reapply sunscreen on time, you increase your chances of developing a sunburn.

How often should you reapply SPF 15 sunscreen?

Just like any other type of sunscreen, you should reapply SPF 15 sunscreen every two hours. If you are swimming or sweating, you may need to reapply sunscreen every hour. Take a look at the package to see how long it will last in the water.

Does sunscreen stop working after 2 hours?

Sunscreen does not necessarily stop working after two hours, but it begins to lose its effectiveness. Therefore, you increase your chances of developing a serious sunburn or other complications if you do not reapply sunscreen every two hours.

Young man applying sunscreen on face

Protect Yourself When You Go Outside by Reapplying Sunscreen

Ultimately, you must make sure you apply sunscreen before you go outside. Then, reapply it every two hours to reduce your chances of developing a sunburn. If you are swimming or sweating, you may need to reapply sunscreen every hour. If you are looking for products that can protect you against the sun, take a closer look at Babo sunscreen products. You can protect your skin, reduce your chances of developing a serious sunburn, and prevent premature aging if you protect your skin accordingly.