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I’ve always been the type to skip sunscreen on cloudy days—figured if the sun’s hiding, it can’t really hurt me, right? 😅 But yesterday I went out with the kids for a walk, it was completely overcast, and by the evening I noticed my shoulders and nose were pink. Not super painful, but clearly sunburned. Is this a thing? Can UV rays still reach us when the sky is covered in clouds? I’m honestly a bit confused and wondering if anyone else has experienced this.
Oh yes, that’s absolutely a thing. I used to think exactly like you, Maya—cloudy = safe. But UV radiation, especially UVA, can pass through clouds almost unhindered. I learned it the hard way while surfing on a grey morning in Cornwall. Came home red as a lobster, and that was back in April! Some clouds even intensify UV exposure by reflecting light, acting almost like a diffuser. You might not feel the heat, but your skin still gets hit.
If you’re interested in a deeper breakdown of how it works (with solid tips on staying protected), this page explains it really well: understanding chromatography. They touch on things like how different types of clouds impact UV, how UV Index should guide your decisions—not the temperature—and how things like sand and water can reflect rays even when it’s cloudy. Now I apply SPF 50 pretty much year-round, especially on days that “look safe” but aren’t.
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