{"id":566314,"date":"2026-07-03T03:59:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T03:59:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/566314\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T03:59:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T03:59:55","slug":"dermatologists-reveal-how-often-to-apply-sunscreen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/566314\/","title":{"rendered":"Dermatologists Reveal How Often to Apply Sunscreen"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Estimated4 min read<\/p>\n

If you apply sunscreen<\/a> in the morning and then promptly forget about it for the rest of the day, are you really getting the sun protection you need? It turns out, probably not. We asked dermatologists how often to apply sunscreen for the best protection, and sadly, once a day isn\u2019t cutting it.<\/p>\n

If you only apply sunscreen once a day (or even less), you\u2019re not alone. But forgetting to reapply often throughout the day doesn\u2019t just result in an uncomfortable, itchy sunburn<\/a>\u2014it can also lead to potentially deadly skin cancer<\/a>. In fact, our risk of developing melanoma doubles when we have five or more sunburns, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Meet the experts: Heather Woolery-Lloyd, M.D.<\/a>, a board-certified dermatologist and director of Ethnic Skin Care at the University of Miami Department of Dermatology; Leslie Baumann, M.D.<\/a>, a board-certified dermatologist, researcher, and founder of Baumann Cosmetic Dermatology<\/a><\/p>\n

That means being diligent about your sunscreen application is key to protecting yourself in more ways than one, but how often do you actually have to apply it for the best results? Ahead, dermatologists reveal once and for all how often to apply sunscreen and share their tips for building the habit into your routine.<\/p>\n

How often to apply sunscreen <\/strong><\/p>\n

To stay protected all day, you need to reapply every two hours, according to Heather Woolery-Lloyd, M.D.<\/a>, a board-certified dermatologist and director of Ethnic Skin Care at the University of Miami Department of Dermatology. If you\u2019re swimming or sweating a lot, you\u2019ll need to reapply more often.<\/p>\n

And don\u2019t be afraid to be liberal with your application. Most people don\u2019t apply enough sunblock in the first application, so they aren\u2019t getting the same level of protection as stated on the label, explains Leslie Baumann, M.D.<\/a>, a board-certified dermatologist, researcher, and founder of Baumann Cosmetic Dermatology<\/a>. \u201cThis makes the sunscreen less effective, causing it to lose its ability to protect the skin,\u201d she notes.<\/p>\n

Think you can skip sunscreen when it\u2019s cold or cloudy outside? Not so fast. Ultraviolet light, including UVB rays that damage your skin, may be less present on a cloudy day, but UVA rays are just as strong and cause more skin damage, per Dr. Baumann. In other words, you still need to wear sunscreen on rainy days and even during cold weather activities like skiing.<\/p>\n

Should you ever reapply sunscreen more often? <\/strong><\/p>\n

As a general rule, reapplying sunscreen every two hours will protect you from the sun\u2019s harmful rays. But there are a few situations where you may want to reapply more often:<\/p>\n