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Can you get sunburnt through glass? You’ve probably never asked yourself this question as you enjoy the sun through a car or house window. Many people in the UK think they are protected from the elements behind glass. However, that’s not the case.
Yes, you can get sunburn through the glass in your house or car. Most glass has UVB ray protection, but few have UVA glass protection. That means some harmful sunrays get to us behind home and car windows. However, you can tint window glass with a special film to ensure you are protected from sun damage completely.
It’s important to be sure about this issue because sunburn can damage your skin. You may not protect yourself from sunburn without fully understanding how it happens. Let’s look at a few details concerning sunburn.
What Is Sunburn?
Sunburn is a kind of skin damage that occurs when we are exposed to harmful sun rays. UV radiation caused by UVA and UVB sun rays can damage your skin. These rays cause short-term inflammation, irritation, and peeling of the skin.
Long-term sun damage can cause skin cancer, wrinkles, and premature ageing. People with fair skin are more susceptible to sunburn compared to those with darker skin. That’s because dark-skinned people have more melanin or skin colour pigmentation.
However, we all get sunburn when exposed to harmful sunrays to a certain degree. It can also happen to animals like your pet if you do not protect them from the sun.
Can You Get Sunburnt Through Glass?
Most glass is made of a material with a special coating that completely blocks UVB rays. These are the shorter sunrays that burn the top layer of your skin but don’t penetrate the deeper layers. They are the rays that tan your skin and cause sunburn when you spend excess time in the sun.
However, most types of glass don’t protect you from UVA rays completely. These are the longer sun rays that can damage the deep layer of your skin. They cannot only cause sunburn but also skin cancer, wrinkles, and premature ageing.
The best way to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays is by sitting behind tinted glass. You can also do more to protect your skin by applying broad-spectrum sunscreen daily.
That applies whether you’ll be sitting behind a window or out in the sun all day. SPF 30 mineral sunscreen with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide is a good option.
It’s also good to tint your car and home windows with window film manufactured to filter out UVA and UVB rays. However, check on your local laws concerning car tints before applying window film to your car windows.
Conclusion
It is indeed possible to get sunburnt through a car or house window. Therefore, start applying sunscreen to protect your skin from sunburn. Also, make sure you sit behind tinted windows in a vehicle or building to protect your skin from sunburn.
