· 9 min read
Base tan myth: does a tan protect you from sunburn?
A base tan gives roughly SPF 3 or less, and a tan is a sign of skin damage. What a tan is, why sunbeds don't help and what protects you on a sunny trip.
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10 posts · SunDose
SunDosearticles & guides.
Guides to the sun and your skin: the UV index, skin types, sunburn, SPF and vitamin D explained, and how SunDose helps you plan safer time in the sun.
About SunDose 
· 9 min read
Best UV index for tanning: why no level is truly safe
There is no best UV index for tanning, because no level makes a tan safe. See how risk climbs with UV and by hour, the shadow rule, and how to cut it.
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· 9 min read
Can you get sunburned on a cloudy day? Clouds, snow, water
Yes. Up to 80% of UV can pass through light cloud, and snow can nearly double it. See what clouds, snow, water, sand, altitude and shade do to UV.
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· 9 min read
Fitzpatrick skin types: find yours and what it means
Find your Fitzpatrick skin type with a chart of the six types by how skin burns and tans, a quick self-check, the scale's limits and what it means for you.
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· 8 min read
How long does it take to get sunburned? UV and skin type
How long it takes to burn depends on the UV index and your skin type. See the dose math, rough minutes at UV 3 to 10, and why no number is a safe limit.
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· 9 min read
How much sun do you need for vitamin D without burning?
The NHS says most people make enough vitamin D from sunlight from late March to September, but not in winter. Why skin tone matters and when to supplement.
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· 9 min read
How to treat sunburn: fast relief and when to get help
How to treat sunburn with NHS and AAD advice side by side: cooling, pain relief, blisters, a day-by-day timeline and the signs that mean you need a doctor.
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· 9 min read
Medications that cause sun sensitivity, and skincare too
Medications that cause sun sensitivity include antibiotics, NSAIDs, diuretics and retinoids. See the FDA's list, risky skincare and how to protect skin.
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· 9 min read
SPF 30 vs 50: what the numbers mean and which to choose
SPF 30 vs 50: 97% versus 98% of UVB blocked sounds close, but what reaches your skin drops from 1 in 30 to 1 in 50. What it means and which to choose.
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· 9 min read
UVA vs UVB: what each does to skin and how to block both
UVA vs UVB: UVB causes most sunburns, while UVA reaches deeper and passes through glass. See how sunscreen labels show each and what the UV index misses.
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