Can you catch a tan through a window? Here’s how much vitamin D gets absorbed through glass – The Sun | The Sun

A sunny day can do wonders for your mood, even when you keep inside.

But is it possible to catch the sun's rays through a window?

Can you get a suntan through a window?

Surprisingly, you CAN get a suntan through a window.

Most panes of glass absorb around 97 per cent of the sun's UVB rays – the ones which cause sunburn and some skin cancers.

"While the glass will absorb 37 per cent of the less harmful UVA radiation", expert Luis Villazon told Science Focus.

This is the equivalent of an SPF30 sunscreen – meaning you could still get tanned, freckled and even burnt if you sat in a sunny spot for long enough.

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However, it would require an extremely long amount of time before you would get burned.

Car windscreens are a little different – because they have a plastic layer between the two layers of glass, blocking all of the UVB and 80 per cent of the UVA.

This makes tanning in the car extremely unlikely.

So don't expect to get bronzed next time you have a long journey.

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How much vitamin D can you absorb through glass?

Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, keeping your bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

While some research suggests it eases chronic pain and insomnia and prevents flu, while low vitamin D levels have been linked to obesity, high cholesterol and even heart disease in kids.

It's essential to get enough of the vitamin into your system, and the main source is direct sunlight.

So the big question is if you're stuck in the office or at home all day, can you still get vitamin D through the glass?

Vitamin D is produced by the body when it is hit by UVB rays, which are nearly all blocked by the window.

The wavelength necessary for vitamin D production it among those that don't make it through – meaning you can't reap the sun's main health benefit while inside.

Can you get sunburned through a window?

While it is possible to get a sunburn through your windows, it generally doesn't happen quickly.

However, your skin can still sustain damage over time.

Should I wear SPF when sitting when working from home?

If you're sitting near windows — or in front of a computer screen — experts advise you still wear SPF as you're exposing yourself to potentially skin-damaging light.

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The three main reasons why experts say you should wear SPF indoors are because you are exposed to:

  • Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays
  • Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays
  • Blue light from smart devices, computers and TVs

 

 

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