Why sun umbrellas won't save you from getting sunburnt

Sitting under a parasol on the beach does not protect you from sunburn, a new study claims.

Seeking shade is a widely-used practice to avoid direct sun exposure. People often assume their skin is fully protected as long as they are under an umbrella, according to the Daily Mail. 

Although a parasol stops direct beams, it is no match for diffuse radiation - rays that have been scattered in all directions on their way to Earth, the researchers said.

Studies in the past have compared SPF protection among various sunscreens, but few have examined the UV protectiveness of a beach umbrella or compared it directly with sunscreen. 

The study, conducted in Lake Lewisville, Texas, had 81 participants spend three-and-a-half hours on a sunny beach - with 41 using an umbrella and the others SPF 100 sunscreen.

A day later, the beachgoers were examined for sunburn on their face, back of the neck, upper chest, arms and legs. 

Researchers found 78 per cent of those who were under the shade of the umbrella developed sunburn compared with 25 percent of the sunscreen group. There were 142 incidences in the former and 17 in the latter.

The findings showed neither method alone offers complete sunburn prevention - although the sunscreen was more efficient in the clinical trial. 

- Daily Mail