Yes, you can sunburn during an eclipse: Dermatologist discusses skin safety for rare event

Key takeaways:

• NASA recommends that eclipse viewers protect their skin as well as their eyes.
• Dermatologist advises individuals watching the entire eclipse to wear sunscreen and protective clothing.

When viewing the solar eclipse on April 8, individuals in the United States should not only protect their eyes, but also their skin.

The total solar eclipse will cross North America, with its path of totality spanning from Texas to Maine. While the total solar eclipse will only last for approximately 4 minutes, other phases of the eclipse, known as the partial eclipse, will last between 70 and 80 minutes.

According to the NASA Eclipse Safety page, eye safety during the viewing of the solar eclipse is of paramount importance, with the organization cautioning individuals to never look directly at the sun during this phenomenon, except during the brief moments of totality. However, NASA has also warned viewers that protecting the skin during the partial solar eclipse phase is equally important.

“Even during a partial or annular eclipse, or during the partial phases of a total eclipse, the sun will still be very bright,” the organization wrote on its website. “If you are watching an entire eclipse, you may be in direct sunlight for hours.”

Allison Arthur

Healio spoke with Allison Arthur, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist at the Sand Lake Dermatology Center, about skin safety information while viewing a solar eclipse. According to Arthur, a study was conducted in which 1,000 students at the University of George were surveyed about their skin safety during the solar eclipse in 2017.

“Although the majority of respondents wore glasses to protect their eyes, most did not take measures to protect their skin from the sun,” Arthur told Healio pointing out that only 20.1% of respondents wore sunscreen, 8.5% wore broad-brimmed hats and 4.5% wore long sleeves.

“The authors estimated that the [ultraviolet] exposure received by observers who watched the entire eclipse would put them at a very high risk for sunburn,” she added.

In fact, the researchers calculated that individuals who remained outside to view the 2017 eclipse from start to finish received a dose of 9.7 UVI-hours. In other words, these individuals were exposed to what would be the equivalent of 1 hours’ worth of 9.7 UV light — a value that the WHO considers “very high.”

“This study emphasized the need to educate people that both the eyes and the skin need to be protected from the sun while watching an eclipse,” Arthur said.

Arthur recommends that those watching the eclipse take the necessary sun safety measures.

“Cover up with a broad-brimmed hat and sun-protective clothes like long sleeves and pants,” she explained. “Wear sunscreen SPF 30 or higher on any exposed areas of skin. If you are outside for longer than 2 hours, make sure to reapply sunscreen. If possible, watch the eclipse from the comfort of a shady area.”

References:

• Eclipse Safety. Eclipse viewing safety (nasa.gov). Accessed April 4, 2024.
• Total solar eclipse FAQ. https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/faq/. Accessed April 4, 2024.
• What to expect when you’re expecting a total solar eclipse. https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/what-to-expect/. Accessed April 4, 2024.
• Stewart AE, et al. Atmosphere (Basel). 2022;doi:10.3390/atmos13111888.