I have a weird question about the sun and tanning?

Question

When I get up at 6am to swim, it's fairly bright out, but the sun is not above the horizon yet.

Can that sunlight still do damage to your skin or does the sun have to above the horizon in order for the UV rays to do harm?

Answer 1

The sun isnt strong enough to penetrate the skin long enough to do damage at 6am.

You have to consider the UVB index that day to even consider if you will burn or not. If the UVB index is above 5% the rays are hazardous but this usually doesnt kick in until about 11am. Its always good to be careful and wear your sunscreen.

Sun exposure is great for you, its over exposure you want to avoid!

Answer 2

just wear sunscreen and don't swim for too long, just in case

Answer 3

Uv rays are always at risk of being harmful but they are definately not at there strongest point at that time of the day!

see this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet

Answer 4

The light that allows you to see before the Sun is up is usually reflected light, or light scattered by the atmosphere. The reflected light should not do any harm, because it tends to be of a longer wavelength. The scattered light can contain UV photons, however, and no matter where they are from, UV still has enough energy to do damage.

The redeeming point is that there is relatively little UV in the early morning light, compared to when the Sun is up. But a bit of sun cream may not be a bad idea.

Answer 5

all kinds of sun exposure can in the end be damaging.. but at dusk and dawn are technically the best times to do things outdoors.. cuz the UV Rays arent as strong as they are between eleven am and 3 ...

Answer 6

I suppose so because when it's bright out, the sun has got to be shining. The sun penetrates most evrything, and the rays are everywhere.

Answer 7

the UV rays are less promonent in the morning, but you can still get some sort of skin damage.  That's why you should always wear protection.

Answer 8

the sun can allways harm you exspesaly in the water the uv rays reflect off the water to always put sun screen on even if its in the morning or cloudy

Answer 9

I'm pretty sure any sun light can cause damage. That's why you should still wear SPF under your makeup in the winter! Of course its not as bad as say, 12 noon to 2 pm sun either. Hope that helps.