SPF is vital for protecting against the sun’s harmful rays but one man – who opted for a spray sunscreen when going out in the sun – realised he’d made a huge mistake when he came back inside
A man made a blunder with his sun cream application but didn’t realise until hours later when he saw what his skin looked like. SPF is incredibly important due to the serious damage the sun’s rays can have on our skin. The end of summer is fast approaching with autumn on the horizon, leaving many people keen to make the most of the warmer, brighter days before they disappear for another year. One man made a mistake when using an aerosol SPF though, after failing to rub it into his skin.
He was left with bright red stripes of sunburn on his chest while the skin which had been covered by the protective spray was unharmed. The man didn’t rub in the aerosol spray, leaving significant patches of skin which were unprotected and exposed to the full force of UVB rays from the sun.
His partner captured the consequences of this in a video shared on TikTok.
Over the top of the footage showcasing the man’s sunburn, she added the words: “This is a reminder if you use an aerosol suncream, always rub it in after spraying”, with a crying laughing emoji added at the end.
The video racked up a string of comments from fellow social media users keen to share their thoughts.
One person sympathised: “HAHHAHAHAHA POOR GUY! I did use 700ml suncream in 14 days, wasn’t enough”.
Another said: “how is this not common knowledge?”
A third commented: “This is why I refuse to use to aerosol SPF. I don’t trust them”.
But someone else said: “You need to hold it further back when spraying so it covers like a mist and make sure it’s dry before going into the pool or touching anything to it like towels or clothes. I’ve never rubbed ours in.”
Others jokingly compared him to Tony the Tiger.
The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is further broken down into UVA, UVB, and UVC categories. UVA rays are the most prevalent on earth but it’s UVB rays which are the culprits behind sunburns.
According to The Skin Cancer Foundation: “While UVA and UVB rays differ in how they affect the skin, they both do harm. Unprotected exposure to UVA and UVB damages the DNA in skin cells, producing genetic defects, or mutations, that can lead to skin cancer and premature aging.”
The NHS warns there’s “no safe or healthy way to get a tan” and adds that “people who spend a lot of time in the sun, whether it’s for work or play, are at increased risk of skin cancer if they do not take the right precautions.”
It’s important to use at least factor 30 sunscreen, never let your skin burn, and spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest and most intense.
The NHS states: “Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn does not just happen on holiday. You can burn in the UK, even when it’s cloudy.
“There’s no safe or healthy way to get a tan. A tan does not protect your skin from the sun’s harmful effects.
“Aim to strike a balance between protecting yourself from the sun and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight.”
Always read the application instructions before applying your sunscreen as brands can vary.
