The best time to sunbathe

The best time to sunbathe

If you like to get a healthy tan and show it off on the best beaches, you can achieve this but you shouldn’t do so at any cost or by putting the health of your skin at risk. You just need to know when the best time to sunbathe is and do it in a way that is safe, for the right amount of time and ensuring that you are well protected.

As well as not forgetting to apply sunscreen and wear a hat and sunglasses for a day by the pool, it is important to pay attention to what time we are exposed to the sun’s rays. To be safe, the best thing is to sunbathe during the early hours of the day, more or less up until midday.

And in the afternoon, after a delicious lunch and a restorative siesta in the shade, you can return to the sand from 5pm onwards until you are ready to return to your accommodation. The reason for choosing these times is that it is when the sun’s rays are less intense because of the angle at which they hit our skin. However, we should still protect ourselves as we are still at risk from sunburn.

The worst time to sunbathe

As we know when the best time to sunbathe is, it isn’t too difficult to work out when it is sensible to take shelter in a good shady spot. The worst time to sunbathe is during the middle of the day until around 5pm, as solar radiation is more intense at this time.

In other words, there is a greater risk of suffering from skin damage, sunstroke or other serious illnesses. It is therefore vitally important to take extra precautions at this time of day for a healthy suntan.

Months when it is best not to sunbathe

Just as there are good and bad times to sunbathe there are also months when it is less advisable. It is more dangerous to spend hours on a sun lounger at certain times of the year and, as you can probably imagine, these coincide with our summer holidays. June, July and August are the months of the year when it is best to avoid sunbathing, especially in Spain as the movement of the Earth in summer means that the sun’s rays hit the earth more directly. However, this clashes somewhat with our urge to pack our suitcases and head to a beach destination where we can disconnect for a few days.

Protecting ourselves from the sun at the worst time of the day 

You can control and adjust your summer timetable so that you head to the beach at the safest time for sunbathing. What you can’t control is when the summer holidays are if you are required to take your holiday at a certain time of the year.

In both cases, it is essential to follow this advice to protect yourself from the sun both during the worst time of the day (if you have no choice but to be out in the sun) and during the summer months.

• Apply sunscreen generously, after each swim and then reapply throughout the day every two hours. During your first few days at the beach or the swimming pool it is best to start with a high factor sunscreen so that you don’t risk getting sunburnt before you’ve even started.
• As well as sunscreen, it is also a good idea to wear sunglasses and a hat and not spend too much time in the sun. Take cover under the sunshade every so often to protect your skin.
• Don’t be caught out by cloudy days, as your skin is still being exposed to the sun. Therefore, follow the same advice as above and make sure you apply sun protection to your skin.
• During your day at the beach or pool alternate between sunbathing and taking a dip in the water to refresh yourself, hydrate your skin and reduce your body temperature.

Alternatives to sunbathing on the beach

What should you do at midday when sunbathing is not recommended? Well, how about treating yourself to some delicious food in beautiful natural surroundings? At Mallorca Fashion Outlet you will find a wide range of delicious dishes. There is Japanese and Italian food and authentic American hamburgers awaiting you as a delicious alternative to sunbathing at the beach… The only difficult thing with so many options available will be getting the whole family to agree on where you’ll eat today.   

It is easy to return to your daily routine with an enviable and healthy suntan. You’ll be able to sunbathe on this holiday and you’ll do so with the confidence and security of knowing when the best time to sunbathe is. On this holiday relax, have fun and forget about the time for everything except when it comes to protecting your skin from the sun’s rays.