Spring Is the Sneakiest Sunburn Season: Why March–May Catches You Off Guard
Cool air fools you into skipping SPF — but by late spring the sun is already as strong as late summer, on skin that hasn't seen the sun all winter.
By late April, the sun's UV strength is roughly equal to late August, yet cool air leads many people to skip protection on skin that hasn't seen sun all winter.
Photobiology research notes that UVA and UVB exposure follow the sun's seasonal angle rather than how warm it feels, which is why a crisp spring afternoon can deliver near-summer UV and produce a surprise sunburn.
Questions we get a lot
Can you really get sunburned in spring?
Yes. UV intensity rises with the sun's angle through spring, so by late April the sun's UV strength is roughly comparable to late August. Because the air still feels cool, people often skip sunscreen on skin that hasn't been exposed all winter, making spring a common time for surprise burns.
Why doesn't cool weather protect me from UV?
Air temperature and UV are controlled by different things. Warmth comes mainly from infrared and weather conditions, while UV depends on the sun's angle and time of year. A cool spring day can still carry strong UV, so feeling cold is no signal that your skin is safe.
r/SkincareAddiction: 'It was barely 15°C out and I still got pink on a spring hike — how is that even possible?'