Personal Sun Umbrellas, They’re Not Just for Dorks!
Hey there tan fans, it’s Tanny Mangino here with another tanning tip to help ensure you’re tanning responsibly this summer! First of all let me say, I know what you’re thinking tan fans. Personal Sun Umbrellas are only for dorks for who don’t want a radiant, golden, summertime glow. You might even be thinking,“Boy Tanny, you sure have gone off the deep end!” Well, to be truthful, maybe old Tanny thought he was going a little crazy using a personal sun umbrella. However, after some extensive early morning bronzing the other weekend, I knew that in order to keep tanning responsibly, I needed a little extra protection to keep my tan from morphing into a hideous sunburn!
You see, Tanny had big plans for being outside that day. You might call my plan a ‘tan-plan’ if you’re so inclined.
And as Death Cab for Cutie, a popular indie rock band best known for their work on the ‘Twilight: New Moon’ soundtrack once said:
“And it came to me then that every plan is a tiny prayer to father time”
Tanny’s tiny prayer involved sipping on a light, refreshing adult beverage on the beach. Maybe do a little body surfing. Take a bike ride. You know, nothing too crazy, but I knew I was going to be out in the sun a lot. Taking my aggressive tan-plan into account, it became clear it was time to bust out the heavy artillery.
Enter, the personal sun umbrella
Sun Umbrellas: Are they friend or foe to the tan-man?
The History behind Sun Umbrellas
As I’ve progressed in my journey for the ultimate, responsible tan, I’ve learned a few things. Just like the “Circle of life” in ‘The Lion King’, it seems like there is a similar common string that runs through the essence of all things suntan related. When I began to research the sun umbrella, I had no idea what I would find. It turns out that the first umbrellas weren’t even invented for the purpose of covering a person from rain. The first umbrellas were actually created around four thousand years ago in China with the goal of protecting a person from the sun. Since pale skin in ancient days was a sign of nobility, umbrellas (a.k.a. parasols) became all the rage.
I know, I can’t believe they wanted to be pale, but people did strange things in those days.
While Tanny may say “good riddance” to the pale aristocracy of the past, he can appreciate the legacy of responsible tanning that our pasty ancestors left behind! This history is also one of the reasons the sun umbrella is used so frequently in Asian cultures.
Who’d a thunk the original umbrella was designed to protect against the sun?
The Science behind Sun Umbrellas
Now that you know about the cool history of the umbrella, your next question might be:
“Tanny, should I go out and purchase a personal sun umbrella so I can look as cool as you at the beach?”
Well tan fan, it depends. Depending upon your desired level of sun protection, you might be able to just use a standard rain umbrella you have lying around. According to a U.S. study published in JAMA Dermatology, a normal umbrella can block more than 75% of ultraviolet (UV) light on a sunny day. Special umbrellas designed with sun protection in mind (and UPF ratings) can block up to 99% of UV rays. UPF stands for “Ultraviolet Protection Factor”, with the number indicating how effective the material is at blocking the sun. A UPF rating of 50 means that only 1/50th (or 2%) of the sun’s UV radiation can penetrate the material.
As you can see, there’s no need to break the bank on a new umbrella. Tanny bought this dirt cheap 3 pack of large umbrellas
However, if you do decide to invest in a new umbrella, another factor to consider is the size of the umbrella. Since UVB rays can reach your skin by being reflected off other surfaces (think water, sand, etc.) you can still burn if your umbrella isn’t big enough. The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that the amount of UV light present beneath an umbrella can be up to 84 percent of what the sun puts out. This is because the indirect UVB radiation still reaches you. A quick tip is to remember that the amount of indirect UV light is proportionate to the amount of open sky you can see from the shade.
Where to use Personal Sun Umbrellas
Some great places to use personal sun umbrellas include Theme Parks, Golf Courses, and any other open areas. If it rains you’ll look even smarter since you already had your umbrella handy. Who says it’s just for the sun anyways 😉
As always, use sun protection devices like these in conjunction with other sun protective measures like sunscreen, and UPF rated clothing.
Remember, you’re only a dork if you’re not tanning responsibly!
Sincerely,