5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From the Sun Without Sunscreen

Sunlight can improve your health in many ways. It can increase your vitamin D levels and boost your mood, among other things. But unprotected exposure to the sun can be unhealthy. The sun produces harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can burn your skin and lead to premature skin aging, skin cancer, and eye damage. 

Daily sunscreen use goes a long way toward shielding you from UV rays. But there are several other ways you can protect yourself. 

1. Cover up using clothing and hats

Covering your skin can help safeguard you from UVA and UVB rays. But some clothes offer better protection than others. You can look for clothing labeled with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). This measures how well the fabric can protect your skin from UV rays. For example, a shirt with a UPF 50 rating blocks roughly 98% of the sun's UV rays. The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) requires a UPF of 50 or higher to grant its seal of recommendation. 

But clothing doesn't have to have an SCF recommendation to offer sun protection. Many factors determine how protective clothing is, including: 

• Color: Research suggests that darker colors are better at blocking the sun than lighter colors. That's because they absorb more UV rays. 

• Material: Clothing made of tightly woven fabrics block more UV light than clothing made with loose-weave fabrics. So, rayon, polyester, and denim block the sun better than unbleached cotton or mesh. You can test your clothes by holding them up to the light. If you can see through the fabric, it’s not protective enough. 

• Fit: Looser-fitting clothes can reduce your exposure to the sun's rays. That's because tight clothes might stretch or tear, allowing more UV rays to reach your skin. And wet clothing is less protective than dry clothing. So, if you're planning to hit the pool or ocean, remember to change your clothes when you get out of the water. 

• Style: It helps to cover your skin as much as you can. So consider long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and long pants or skirts. 

2. Wear sunglasses

UV radiation can damage your eyes, eyelids, and the sensitive skin around your eyes. Luckily, wearing sunglasses can shield these areas and reduce the risk of cataracts and other eye conditions caused by sun damage. In general, goggles and large sunglasses are better at protecting your eyes from UV rays than smaller sunglasses. 

But not all eyewear works the same at blocking sunlight. One way to check the effectiveness of your sunglasses is to see if they have an eye-sun protection factor (E-SPF). The E-SPF measures how well lenses block the transmission of light and UV reflection. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends wearing sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UV light. 

3. Use an umbrella

Umbrellas aren’t just for rainy days. Using an umbrella in the sun can stop direct UV rays from hitting your skin. But research shows that umbrellas are less effective at blocking scattered or diffused UV rays. This type of light is common at the beach. So umbrellas are most effective when you use them in combination with other sun-protection strategies. 

4. Avoid UV lights

The sun isn't the only source of damaging UV light. Some artificial sources of UV light include:

• Tanning beds: Like the sun, tanning beds emit dangerous UV rays that increase your risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging. Tanning beds can also cause eye damage.

• Mercury vapor lighting: Mercury vapor lamps provide long-lasting light to large areas. These often include streets, stores, and sports arenas. The bulbs have an outer layer to protect people from UV light exposure. But if the outer bulb breaks, unfiltered UV light can pass through and cause skin burns, headaches, and blurred vision. 

• Halogen, incandescent, and fluorescent light bulbs: All three of these bulb types can expose you to UV radiation. In some cases, the level of harmful light may be comparable to that from the sun.So, make sure light bulbs have protective coverings to shield against UV radiation. This is especially important for people who have health conditions that are triggered by sunlight, such as lupus. 

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Should you wear sunscreen every day? Wearing sunscreen every day lowers your risks of skin cancer, premature skin aging, and hyperpigmentation caused by the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) ways. 

• Signs of skin cancer: Getting sunburns increases your risk of skin cancer. See pictures of what skin cancer looks like.

• Dealing with sunburn pain? From cool baths to vinegar compresses, read how these three people relieved their sunburn discomfort.

• Do sunscreen pills work? Maybe someday in the future they will. But so far, taking a sunscreen pill alone hasn’t been proven to be safe and effective for sun protection.

5. Limit your time in direct sunlight

It's best to limit your time outdoors when the sun’s rays are most powerful. This is between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM in summer. If you’re outside during this time, be sure to protect your skin and scalp. And take plenty of breaks in the shade (and indoors, if possible).

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Written by:

Jennifer Clements, MD, MSEd, NBHWC

Jennifer Clements, MD, MSEd, NBHWC, is a board-certified physician and health coach who believes in achieving optimal health through healthy lifestyles. She’s a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.

Edited by:

Meredith Hoffa

Meredith Hoffa is a senior health editor at GoodRx, where she leads journalists and clinicians covering various well-being topics, particularly in diet and nutrition.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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