Can i get sunburned through a car window

The long answer? UVB is the one that burns your skin. Thankfully, all your car windows have a film on them to protect you from these harmful rays.

UVA rays can cause premature wrinkling and aging. However, there are still consequences of sitting in the sun too long that may encourage you to limit the amount of sun you are exposed to when driving.

It is legal to tint your car windows in Arizona. For long periods of driving, this is not enough to protect against skin damage from UVA rays, and the prevalence of skin cancer in drivers proves it. A study found that Americans who spent more time driving were more likely to develop skin cancer on their left side — the side that is closest to the side window. In this study, 53 percent of participants developed skin cancer on the left side of their face, while 47 percent had cancer on the right side.

Malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, was even more divided, with 74 percent of cases on the left side and only 26 percent on the right.

Windows at home and at work are also not entirely protective. If you are just sitting in a room lit by sunlight, you are not likely to get sun damage , but if you are positioned next to a window getting direct sunlight for many hours of the day, you may want to take precautions. If you will be spending a long period of time in front of a window at home or at work, you can use a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect exposed skin.

Mineral sunscreens may be preferable to chemical sunscreen because they are less likely to irritate your skin. You can also add a clear protective film to your window that filters out UVA rays, Batra says. Studies show that UV protective films, which can be found at many hardware stores, can reduce UVA transmission by more than 99 percent. You can also add protective film or tint to your car windows to block out UVA light, but first check up on your local laws, as some states place restrictions on window tints.

Though you are unlikely to get sunburned through a car or home window, you may still be exposed to harmful UVA rays that can accelerate skin aging and increase the risk of skin cancer. Protect yourself with a broad-spectrum sunscreen or use a window film if you plan to spend a lot of time in the car or by a window.

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