My grandson came back from the pool with his shoulders and back sunburned down to the top of his trunks...He swears he never left the water and I believe him...I can see how his shoulders could get burned but the major part of his back would have been under the water..My husband says he heard that no sun blocker is waterproof....If that is true it should be against the law for a company to write "waterproof" on the label, right?
2006-06-21 17:19:57 · 21 answers · asked by Barbarita 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ First Aid
yes
the water actually magnifies the suns rays so you get burnt worse more times then not.
it is important to wear a high factor sun screen that is waterproof and reapply every 2 hours.
2006-06-21 17:24:51 · answer #1 · answered by jubiejubejubajube 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
While he may have had sunblock on every bottle staes it must be reapplied. {and even water resistant/proof needs to be reapplied after water activities such as swimming, watersports, and/or heavy sweating as it gets rubbed off etc...} They do work very well if it is a higher SPF {15 is recommended for fair skin or kids} and they are reapplied once for every hour they are in the pool.
Your grandson probably didn't leave the water but how many kids stay under all the way up to their neck all day? Also most kids when swimming in the pool have their whole back exposed because they swim mainly on top of the water not deep enough below to prevent sun exposure. Good Luck!
2006-06-21 23:52:26 · answer #2 · answered by NotSoTweetOne 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. The surface of the water will reflect the UV radiation which causes the burn. Your grandson was swimming and most likely had his back above the surface of the water at times exposing him. First thing would be to check the UV index for the day. Moderate to high days require a stronger SPF sunscreen than lower days where the radiation is lower as is the risk. Also you don't mention how long he was in the water. A good rule of thumb is to use a "waterproof" sunscreen but it needs to be reapplied every 20 to 45 minutes depending on the UV index.
2006-06-21 17:28:53 · answer #3 · answered by notaxpert 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can get sunburned while swimming.
But, all of the waterproof sunblockers do provide for how long their product is waterproof right there on the label.
I am Native American, I am dark anyway, and never burn...BUT, the first and only sunburn I've ever had was after a 4 hour swim in the lake.
2006-06-21 17:23:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water particles reflect sunlight and UV rays.
You cannot sue the company because it IS waterproof. The bottle tells you to reapply frequently after long exposure to water and toweling.
However, water makes sunburns worse. It'll reflect the UV rays all over the place, and it doesn't matter if you're in the water or not, you will get sunburned. Just like you get bad sunburns from snowboarding or skiing. The white will reflect back the rays.
2006-06-21 17:24:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oy, yes. I remember when I was a little boy swimming I came home once with a burn on my back so bad the skin was peeling off. It was huge, covered my whole back and the skin was dry and peeling, and I spent almost no time out of water. It happens. The sun is powerful and sunscreens DO come off in water. Believe me I know. Maybe some of it soaks into the skin, but from what I see it comes off in the water. Plus, remember if he is a small boy he is likely rowdy and playful, meaning he probably splashes and jumps around and wrestles with freinds and siblings, if he has any. This probably washes off the sunscreen and exposes him to a bit more sun.
Don't get mad at him. These things happen. Believe me, they just do. I remember being a little one and I cut, burned, bruised and broke all kids of things. It's part of being a kid.
2006-06-22 00:37:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sunblock is waterproof, and yes it's possible to get sunburned in the water. The water attracts the sun, and can intensify its rays, but also, even if the sunblock you are using is waterproof, if you read the package it tells you it should be reapplied every hour or so.
2006-06-21 17:25:22 · answer #7 · answered by jensarquist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes the can, and since water reflects the sun's rays a sunburn is often worse if it happens near or in water.
2006-06-21 17:39:45 · answer #8 · answered by fivestarmama 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water attracts the sun very much so. So he definetely can get sunburnt. Blocker, some yes you can get burnt with, which blockers you will tan rather than burn for your grandson it is best to put like spf30 on him: Hope this works.
2006-06-22 00:10:11 · answer #9 · answered by ~Mz_Nurse~ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you are more likely to get burned in the water then if you were not near any. the water attracts the sun. there are sunblocks that are waterproof, you just have to reapply them more then once throughout the day.
2006-06-21 17:24:39 · answer #10 · answered by kantriella 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋