“I Don’t Need Sunscreen”: 50 People Who Thought So And Ended Up Looking Like Dorks (New Pics)
Always wear sunscreen, stay hydrated, and try to avoid direct sunlight when it’s super hot outside. It’s the middle of the summer right now and one of the biggest joys for many folks is soaking up some rays and stocking up on vitamin D. Sunlight is important for our physical and mental health, but too much ultraviolet light can be harmful, painful, and… embarrassing.
To remind you to prioritize your health when it’s sunny (and to give you a hearty laugh), our team here at Bored Panda has collected some of the biggest sunburn fails from all over the net. The photos show what happens when you forget to put on sunscreen, miss a spot, or if you wear hats and clothing with cut-out shapes in the fabric.
Scroll down, upvote the pics that you found the funniest, and tell us about the worst sunburn you’ve ever gotten in the comments. Meanwhile, you’ll find Bored Panda’s earlier list about the most hilarious sunburns over here.
Just remember: stay safe; don’t be lazy, don’t be stubborn, and put on some darn sunscreen!
Dr. Andrew Carroll, the CEO/Medical Director of Atembis LLC and Family Physician, was kind enough to share his expertise with Bored Panda. He explained why it's important to get daily sunlight, how we can tell when we're going overboard, and how to convince someone to protect themselves from the sun's rays. You'll find the expert's insights as you scroll down.
This post may include affiliate links.
My Brother Works Outdoors, And Wears The Same Hat Every Day
Dr. Carroll, the head of Atembis LLC, said that everyone should get a decent amount of sun daily. "We need sunlight just for mental health, but we also need it to help convert vitamin D to its active form. Taking vitamin D orally is not enough—it needs to be activated and that happens through the skin. There is no “right amount” of sunlight. Everyone’s skin tone is different," the medical expert said.
"What you don’t want to do is burn. If you get a peeling sunburn, each time that happens, you’ve increased your risk of skin cancer. Excessive sun exposure also increases the risk of solar lentigo, which are sunspots," the doctor warned. "A peeling, blistering sunburn is 'too much.' You don’t want to get there."
I Bought Some New Shorts That Are Shorter Than My Other Shorts For Work. Now My Leg Looks Like Neapolitan Ice Cream
Is There A Chemist Open This Evening In Abersock Or Pythelly?
Meanwhile, sunstroke is different. It's a state of dehydration: it occurs when you don't consume enough fluids while you're out in the hot sun. Recently, Europe has been dealing with a massive heatwave, so both sunstroke and sunburns were much more acute.
"Your skin requires hydration to stay healthy—if you’re outside for long periods of time, make sure you’re hydrating from the inside as well as the outside by using lotion and/or protective sunscreen," Dr. Carroll told Bored Panda.
My Dad Is Two Different People
My legs are always like that. Even when wearing shorts I never tan on my legs at all!
This Patch On My Skin Never Tans/Burns. I’ve Had It Since I Was Born
Went Out On A Boat Without Sunscreen Today And Now I Have What I Am Calling “The Bib Of Pain”
We wanted to get the doctor's opinion on how someone could go about talking with a person who stubbornly refuses to wear sunscreen. Here's what he told us: "Sometimes the best way to convince someone of the risks of too much sun exposure is to have them talk to older relatives. Older relatives not only share genetics but also commonly skin tone and risks tend to be similar. Talk to your older relatives and look at their skin."
Dr. Carroll, of Atembis LLC, shared with Bored Panda the types of questions that people should ponder: "Do they have a lot of sunspots? Look at their hands. Look at the skin structure. Is it leathery and thick, wrinkled early? Is it overly thin and easy to tear? How many times have they had something cut or frozen off of their skin? Have they ever had major surgery for skin cancer? Those risks are shared, and you can reduce your own risk by either using physical cover or wearing sunscreen appropriate to your skin tone," he said. Physical cover includes clothing, hats, and sunglasses, the latter of which reduces the risk of cataracts.
Tan Lines Are Hot, Right? When You Forget To Put Sunscreen On Your Feet
PSA: If You’re Using Spray Sunscreen, Rub It In
My And My Coworkers' Tan
Sunlight is pretty much like anything else—moderation is key, and the ‘dose’ you get really matters. Sunlight helps with serotonin production and helps you stay calm, focused, and positive; it also gives you more energy. It’s also one way to fight back against depression and seasonal affective disorder. So much so that some doctors prescribe natural or artificial light treatments.
In other words, you need a daily dose of sunlight to be a properly functioning human being. You really shouldn’t spend all day indoors, in front of your computer screen, hissing at anyone who opens the curtains. On the flip side, you don’t want to stay out in the sun for too long. Especially without protection.
I Had To Sit For Two And A Half Hours In Direct Sunlight For My Brother's Graduation
My Tan Lines Make Me Look Like I’m Wearing Necro-Pants
At My School This Skiing Goggles Tan Line Was A Status Symbol
Some people are naturally more prone to getting sunburnt. The easiest way to predict the future is to look at the past. Have you gotten badly sunburnt in the past? Do you end up looking like a super-red lobster after just a few minutes outdoors? Do people keep telling you to put on sunscreen, for the love of all that’s holy? Those are some ‘subtle’ hints that you should be far more careful with your skin health during the summer and throughout the year.
According to the Mayo Clinic, people who have white skin and red hair are at higher risk of getting sunburn. Obviously, if you’re at the beach or elsewhere with tons of sun, the risk is higher, too. But those of you traveling to the mountains and places at a high altitude should also be aware that your skin might get burnt more easily.
Got A New Job Where I Have To Wear A Uniform And Gloves While Working Outside, Now I Look Like This
Our Tan Lines After Cycling Across The United States
I Got A Temp Tattoo, Got A Sunburn, And Got This Imprint
Wet skin tends to burn more easily than dry skin, so keep that in mind when splashing around in the sea, lake, or pool this year. You might want to invest in lots of water-resistant sunscreen if you plan to do a lot of swimming.
Of course, sunscreen isn’t the only way to protect yourself. You can wear long-sleeved clothing and hats to protect yourself from the UV rays. If your skin feels painful or hot to the touch, odds are that you’ve gotten a sunburn, and it should appear within a few hours. It can several days to heal.
I Managed To Make Almost A Perfect Straight Edged Rectangle On My Back With My Haphazard Sunscreen Application. I Am Not Accepting Hugs At This Time
Working In An Outdoor Vaccine Clinic. Didn't Think About Sunscreen... Now I Have A Mask-Shaped Sunburn, But Only On Half My Face
"I Don't Need Sunscreen, I'll Just Wear A Hat"
Prevention is usually better than having to deal with the consequences. However, we can’t always avoid those. When you get a sunburn, your skin might look pink or red, it might feel tender and itchy. There might be swelling and blisters, and you might have a headache or a fever. The scariest thing is that even your eyes can burn in the sun.
My Crocs Tan
Leave It To A Ginger To Get Sunburnt Fishing Off The Bank When It's In The High 50's
Right but it should be common knowledge that the temperature doesn't affect how easily you get sunburned. It's the intensity of UV light. And how ginger you are.
I Have One Small But Gross Blister On My Back And My Whole Body Aches
"Aches"? That's layers of skin burnt. I honestly don't know why people do this. To get this sunburned, there must have been a point when he started to hurt,yet he didn't cover up?
If the pain gets worse, your headache or fever doesn’t break, head to the doctor ASAP. You should also seek medical help if you get blisters on your face or hands, or if your blisters show signs of infection. Getting chills and noticing changes in your vision are also signs that you need may need assistance from a professional.
Fishnets Turned Me Into A Human/Snake Hybrid
Tanned A Bit Too Much While Wearing Shoes. Kids Call Them My Chimp Feet
I Wore A Mesh Hat On A 30 Mile Hike. Feeling Like Aang Today
The NHS warns not to use petroleum jelly or ice on sunburnt skin. What’s more, you shouldn’t scratch the affected area; don’t pop any blisters, and avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes while your skin is peeling and healing.
I Didn’t Wear My Watch To The Beach And Got A Strip Of Sunburn
My Dad's White Feet And Tanned Legs. He Wears The Same Shoes Everyday
When You Forget To Put Sunscreen On Your Face But At Least Your Sunglasses Work
You can actually get sunburnt on cloudy days. Meanwhile, water, sand, and even snow reflect UV rays and add to the risk of getting burnt badly. As the UV light damages your skin cells, your body reacts by increasing the blood flow to the affected areas. That’s what causes the skin to be inflamed.
Be Careful When Applying Spray-On Sunscreen
My Wife Helped Me Sunscreen My Back At Beach Day Today (Twice)
Less Than An Hour In The Sun, With Factor 50 And Factor 70 All Over Me
Meanwhile, sun exposure ages your skin more quickly and you’re more likely to develop wrinkles and discolored spots. Your skin loses strength and elasticity. Moreover, the more time you spend out in the sun, the greater the risk of skin cancer. That’s why it’s so important to do everything that you can to stay protected. Your health is your greatest resource, Pandas. Protect it well while you’re enjoying life to the max.
I Probably Should Have Covered His Whole Back In Sunscreen And Not Just His Moles
That Helmet Strap Tan Line Though
Got A Nice Tan
Throwback To That Time My Backwards Hat And Lack Of Sun Cream Resulted In A Hat Imprint Being Burnt Onto My Forehead
I’m A Solar Roofer, And We Are Required To Wear Gloves While We Work... It’s Only May
Sunscreen Is Very Effective, But I Can’t Reach The Middle Of My Back
Ran The London Marathon A Couple Of Years Back. Think I Missed A Bit With The Sunscreen
The Tan Lines On My Feet
I Got Sunburn Yesterday
First Day At The Beach And My Wife Made Sure I Was Protected From Sunburn By Spraying My Back With Sunscreen. I Can’t See Back There - Did She Do A Good Job?
Ripped Jeans Sunburn
I think it is. People are back into low-rise *shudder*.
Load More Replies...Can’t do ripped jeans. I look like a bear mauled me before I left home. Sigh, this trend is not for me.
I only wore ripped jeans on the family farm as work clothes. The good jeans were for grocery shopping and school.
Load More Replies...Boyfriend Only Put Sunscreen On His Tattoo While Hiking And This Really Showed How Useful Sunscreen Is Compared To Socks
Like An Idiot, I Chose To Not Wear Sunscreen
Attempt To Put On Sunscreen Was Made
“I’m Not Gonna Be In The Pool That Long, I Won’t Need Sunscreen”
When we were younger, mom left us with our uncle in Palm Springs, Ca. They have a pool. We did apply sunscreen before getting in the pool. but did not reapply at all in the 8 more hours we were out there. I am Hawaiian and usually don't burn. I was burnt to a crisp. Had to wear my swim suit for a few days because anything else was pure agony. and I don't care what "they" say.. do NOT EVER put Noxema on a sunburn.. I almost passed out!
Leigh Left His Sunglasses On
Well, the sunglasses reduced the harmful rays a bit. JUST NOT ON THE EYES, LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO!
Last Summer When My Wife "Sprayed" Sunscreen All Over My Back
I think it’s safe to conclude that spray sunscreen can give you a false sense of protection
Sunburn Socks
Very Sunburned
Asked My Friend To Spray Sunscreen On My Back... Not The Most Even Coat
Note: this post originally had 130 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Clearly the biggest lesson here is to RUB IN the spray sunscreen. 🤦🏽♀️
And reapply every 30-60 min. More so if you are sweating or swimming. Also salt water washes away sunscreen twice as fast so if you're at the beach every 20 min
Load More Replies...People spend their youth worshiping the sun trying to get tanned. Then in later life they try all manner of things, even surgery, to look young again. Avoid the first step and you won't need to worry so much about the second part. Sun ages your skin dramatically.
Exactly, if you want a tan; get a professional fake one. Looks just as good and won't give you skin cancer in the long run.
Load More Replies...I’m a redhead. Doesn’t matter what sunscreen I put in I will always burn. Btw I love peeling dead skin. Sorry just saying. If there was a job peeling skin I would take it and ace it.
I’m a redhead too and it’s impossible to escape lol
Load More Replies...I work in a dermatology office. Please wear sunscreen every, single day, not just when you're going to the beach or the pool. We have people who are in their 20s and 30s who have developed skin cancers, including melanoma.
That's terrible. Where do you live? Just out of curiosity
Load More Replies...I'm a redhead and I hate getting burned, so I do whatever I can to stay out of the sun. One time I was at a concert for my kids (Miranda Cosgrove) and it was in a little amphitheater that was in the sun and everyone was standing. The guy in front of me was a redhead, too, and my wife noticed he was turning a little red. I tapped him on the shoulder and offered him the sunscreen we had. He was very thankful. I was like, we gotta stick together, man.
It rubs the suntan lotion on its skin or else it get the burn again...
I have Acute Porphyria and attacks are set off by exposure to the sun most the time. (Porphyria literally gets called "vampire syndrome" lmao) ... I'm also a Ginger. The sun is literally my greatest enemy. I feel for some of these people, but also some of these people should have known to get out of the sun long before they were cooked alive the way they were xD
While some have definitely just been careless, sometimes you are stuck outside in the sun for some time and have not planned on that before. I do not live in a very sunny country so I would neither put on or even carry sunprotection with me in, let's say, early spring. If I am then for some reason or other unexpectedly forced to spend some time outside I will definitely burn...
Load More Replies...And this is why I avoid sunlight like a vampire who'll burst into flames! I'm allergic to a lot of sunscreen so my super pale Scottish skin would scorch
I don't know if this would work for you, but my grandmother used to make her own sunscreen using coconut oil, almond oil and (pure) aloe vera gel. She'd mix it with something like Shea butter, so it was mostly, if not all, natural ingredients. It does need to be reapplied often, however, and it isn't the highest SPF out there, but it did seem to work ok for her.
Load More Replies...With age I've become almost hysterically afraid of sunburn. I don't care about a nice tan anymore, I don't want to get wrinkly and risk skin cancer
Me too. I've accepted the fact that I am green-pale and I just don't want to try and get a tan risking to get burnt
Load More Replies...I am so fair skinned that I look “normal” with a mild burn. And I freckle bad. Now, as I am a virtual shut in, I am even more pale than before and live in TX. Now if I go out to even the backyard the joke is … if it sounds like bacon, it’s her *L*. (One year as a child, I actually got full thickness burns on my shoulders, another year, while on my first big vacation, I was in the South or France, bought a European style swimsuit, got back to the hostel and the owners spent an entire night wrapping cold wet sheets on me. )
Driving from Maryland to New York I of course didn't put sunscreen on because I was in the car. Sitting in the front passenger seat with my one leg on too of the other, while wearing yoga Capri pants, I ended up with a bad sunburn on my shin. It was very painful and left the craziest tan line because that one section of my leg was shades darker than anywhere else
Every summer I get the sandal tan and because I wear fingerless gloves to move my wheelchair around my hands typically stay white too
I had sunscreen and got burned anyway. My shoulders are the worst, very red. I have my sandals permanently burned on my feet.
I buen like this even with spf 100 sunscreen (yes I reapply) I’m just pale to the point of almost translucent
Sunburns straight up kill the first layer of skin cells. Then surviving cells can mutate which can eventually lead to three (3) different types of skin cancer! Each burn you get increases the chance of skin cancer.
My Dad's company picnic was at Mission Beach in San Diego. I was wearing a tank top and shorts & fell asleep on the beach. Second degree burns. I literally couldn't wear clothes for a few days, even the bedsheet hurt. We turned the heater off on my waterbed and I basically laid there in a giant cool rubber pillow.
Born in 1950 in southern AZ. Sunscreen of any kind was not around until the 70s. We used to have contests in school of who could pull the longest strip of loose blister off. I often won. I always burn and I always tan and then I burn again. It takes only 15 minutes for the burn to start. I was tan under my clothes though thankfully, I seldom burned there. Now, I go in to have my skin examined by the doctor as often as the insurance will pay for it. (A cousin had squamous cell and my mom had basal cell.) I live in the Pacific NW now and avoid going out in the sun as much as possible.
Or wear a shirt made to block the sun. I wear a shirt with SPF 50 to avoid the spray sunscreen and can't reach issues.
This is why I hate the sun lol it's my worst enemy (yes I'm a ginger also). I have managed to avoid burning the last 5 years by only going outside with at least SPF 50 on ANY exposed skin and avoiding being out during peak sun hours where I live (Ohio USA so I stay inside or under heavy shade between 11am and 5pm). Always wear a hat and sunglasses (I have very light sensitive green eyes) and staying well hydrated. Water water water! If you feel thirsty you're already dehydrated. Keeping your body hydrated helps prevent your skin from drying. Dry skin burns much faster.
I have skin the color of mayonnaise, so not only do I have to wear sunscreen pretty much all year, but long sleeves and knee high socks, if I'm wearing shorts.
I envy people who can tan. I do ten mins a day (so I don't burn) and at the end of the summer my "tan" is just my freckles connecting, lol.
Every year I go to Death Valley in the spring. When visiting Badwater (the lowest point) I will see Northern European tourists sunburned really bad.
Lots of people being jerks on here. Calling people stupid for getting sunburnt? Seriously?
Well, if you have pale skin and go to be in the sun for hours and get severely burnt... it's not like nobody warned you, so, yes, you're kind of dumb
Load More Replies...2nd day in Cozumel - catamaran trip to sightsee and snorkel - loaded up on sunscreen, once. Yeah, learned that the ocean washes it right off. Next day I could not even go outside to sit in the SHADE - and yet, i have been sunburned since.
Oof, I got a wicked burn on the BACK of my legs bc I didn't put sunscreen there... Lesson learned.
Clearly the biggest lesson here is to RUB IN the spray sunscreen. 🤦🏽♀️
And reapply every 30-60 min. More so if you are sweating or swimming. Also salt water washes away sunscreen twice as fast so if you're at the beach every 20 min
Load More Replies...People spend their youth worshiping the sun trying to get tanned. Then in later life they try all manner of things, even surgery, to look young again. Avoid the first step and you won't need to worry so much about the second part. Sun ages your skin dramatically.
Exactly, if you want a tan; get a professional fake one. Looks just as good and won't give you skin cancer in the long run.
Load More Replies...I’m a redhead. Doesn’t matter what sunscreen I put in I will always burn. Btw I love peeling dead skin. Sorry just saying. If there was a job peeling skin I would take it and ace it.
I’m a redhead too and it’s impossible to escape lol
Load More Replies...I work in a dermatology office. Please wear sunscreen every, single day, not just when you're going to the beach or the pool. We have people who are in their 20s and 30s who have developed skin cancers, including melanoma.
That's terrible. Where do you live? Just out of curiosity
Load More Replies...I'm a redhead and I hate getting burned, so I do whatever I can to stay out of the sun. One time I was at a concert for my kids (Miranda Cosgrove) and it was in a little amphitheater that was in the sun and everyone was standing. The guy in front of me was a redhead, too, and my wife noticed he was turning a little red. I tapped him on the shoulder and offered him the sunscreen we had. He was very thankful. I was like, we gotta stick together, man.
It rubs the suntan lotion on its skin or else it get the burn again...
I have Acute Porphyria and attacks are set off by exposure to the sun most the time. (Porphyria literally gets called "vampire syndrome" lmao) ... I'm also a Ginger. The sun is literally my greatest enemy. I feel for some of these people, but also some of these people should have known to get out of the sun long before they were cooked alive the way they were xD
While some have definitely just been careless, sometimes you are stuck outside in the sun for some time and have not planned on that before. I do not live in a very sunny country so I would neither put on or even carry sunprotection with me in, let's say, early spring. If I am then for some reason or other unexpectedly forced to spend some time outside I will definitely burn...
Load More Replies...And this is why I avoid sunlight like a vampire who'll burst into flames! I'm allergic to a lot of sunscreen so my super pale Scottish skin would scorch
I don't know if this would work for you, but my grandmother used to make her own sunscreen using coconut oil, almond oil and (pure) aloe vera gel. She'd mix it with something like Shea butter, so it was mostly, if not all, natural ingredients. It does need to be reapplied often, however, and it isn't the highest SPF out there, but it did seem to work ok for her.
Load More Replies...With age I've become almost hysterically afraid of sunburn. I don't care about a nice tan anymore, I don't want to get wrinkly and risk skin cancer
Me too. I've accepted the fact that I am green-pale and I just don't want to try and get a tan risking to get burnt
Load More Replies...I am so fair skinned that I look “normal” with a mild burn. And I freckle bad. Now, as I am a virtual shut in, I am even more pale than before and live in TX. Now if I go out to even the backyard the joke is … if it sounds like bacon, it’s her *L*. (One year as a child, I actually got full thickness burns on my shoulders, another year, while on my first big vacation, I was in the South or France, bought a European style swimsuit, got back to the hostel and the owners spent an entire night wrapping cold wet sheets on me. )
Driving from Maryland to New York I of course didn't put sunscreen on because I was in the car. Sitting in the front passenger seat with my one leg on too of the other, while wearing yoga Capri pants, I ended up with a bad sunburn on my shin. It was very painful and left the craziest tan line because that one section of my leg was shades darker than anywhere else
Every summer I get the sandal tan and because I wear fingerless gloves to move my wheelchair around my hands typically stay white too
I had sunscreen and got burned anyway. My shoulders are the worst, very red. I have my sandals permanently burned on my feet.
I buen like this even with spf 100 sunscreen (yes I reapply) I’m just pale to the point of almost translucent
Sunburns straight up kill the first layer of skin cells. Then surviving cells can mutate which can eventually lead to three (3) different types of skin cancer! Each burn you get increases the chance of skin cancer.
My Dad's company picnic was at Mission Beach in San Diego. I was wearing a tank top and shorts & fell asleep on the beach. Second degree burns. I literally couldn't wear clothes for a few days, even the bedsheet hurt. We turned the heater off on my waterbed and I basically laid there in a giant cool rubber pillow.
Born in 1950 in southern AZ. Sunscreen of any kind was not around until the 70s. We used to have contests in school of who could pull the longest strip of loose blister off. I often won. I always burn and I always tan and then I burn again. It takes only 15 minutes for the burn to start. I was tan under my clothes though thankfully, I seldom burned there. Now, I go in to have my skin examined by the doctor as often as the insurance will pay for it. (A cousin had squamous cell and my mom had basal cell.) I live in the Pacific NW now and avoid going out in the sun as much as possible.
Or wear a shirt made to block the sun. I wear a shirt with SPF 50 to avoid the spray sunscreen and can't reach issues.
This is why I hate the sun lol it's my worst enemy (yes I'm a ginger also). I have managed to avoid burning the last 5 years by only going outside with at least SPF 50 on ANY exposed skin and avoiding being out during peak sun hours where I live (Ohio USA so I stay inside or under heavy shade between 11am and 5pm). Always wear a hat and sunglasses (I have very light sensitive green eyes) and staying well hydrated. Water water water! If you feel thirsty you're already dehydrated. Keeping your body hydrated helps prevent your skin from drying. Dry skin burns much faster.
I have skin the color of mayonnaise, so not only do I have to wear sunscreen pretty much all year, but long sleeves and knee high socks, if I'm wearing shorts.
I envy people who can tan. I do ten mins a day (so I don't burn) and at the end of the summer my "tan" is just my freckles connecting, lol.
Every year I go to Death Valley in the spring. When visiting Badwater (the lowest point) I will see Northern European tourists sunburned really bad.
Lots of people being jerks on here. Calling people stupid for getting sunburnt? Seriously?
Well, if you have pale skin and go to be in the sun for hours and get severely burnt... it's not like nobody warned you, so, yes, you're kind of dumb
Load More Replies...2nd day in Cozumel - catamaran trip to sightsee and snorkel - loaded up on sunscreen, once. Yeah, learned that the ocean washes it right off. Next day I could not even go outside to sit in the SHADE - and yet, i have been sunburned since.
Oof, I got a wicked burn on the BACK of my legs bc I didn't put sunscreen there... Lesson learned.