Buzz
Did that sunburn catch you off guard? It only takes a few minutes of exposure to strong UV rays to get burned. Check out more images of radiant skin.Asking how fast you'll burn without protection is similar to asking how long it takes to run a mile. The answer varies depending on who you ask. For example, world record holder Hicham El Guerrouj would say a mile takes about 3 minutes and 43 seconds, while a typical high school runner might take over 7 minutes. Sunburns are the same. How long it takes to burn depends on factors like your skin type, the time of day, and environmental conditions.
Your skin type plays a role in how quickly you burn. A person with fair skin will burn faster than someone with darker skin if both are exposed to the sun without sunscreen. Fair-skinned people have less melanin, which helps protect against sun damage. Those with darker skin produce more melanin, making it harder for them to burn. Regardless of your complexion, UV rays can still cause harm, so always protect your skin with sunscreen.
If two people with identical complexions go to the beach, but one visits at noon and the other at 4 p.m., the person going at noon would burn faster. This is because the sun's rays are stronger between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. [source: Web MD]. Besides complexion and the time of day you're out in the sun, other factors such as your diet, age, cloud cover, and more can influence how quickly you'll burn.
