As warmer weather rolls in, so does sunburn season — and if you’re heading outdoors with a drink in hand, here’s a tip you’ll want to remember: apply your sunscreen before you start drinking.
A new study out of Florida Atlantic University sheds light on why alcohol and sunburn often go hand in hand.
Researchers surveyed people who had recently gotten sunburned, and the results were eye-opening: about one in five — 22% — admitted that alcohol played a role.
The reasons are as obvious as they are relatable. Once you’ve had a few drinks, you’re less likely to remember sunscreen, you may underestimate how long you’ve been outside, and you could even end up dozing off under the sun’s rays. That’s a perfect recipe for a painful burn.
But drinking isn’t the only sunburn risk. The study also found that 11% of burns happened while people were working outdoors, 10% while swimming, and 7% during exercise.
The biggest danger zone, however, was multitasking: a whopping 43% of respondents said they were doing more than one outdoor activity when they got burned.
This research highlights something many of us forget as soon as the patio drinks and beach days arrive: sun protection is easiest to manage before you get distracted. That means slathering on sunscreen before you hit the lawn games, the pool, or the backyard barbecue — and reapplying every couple of hours.
As temperatures climb and social calendars fill up, a little planning can spare you a lot of discomfort. So the next time you head out for a day in the sun, make sunscreen the first item on your checklist. Your future self (and your skin) will thank you.
