Can You Get a Tan Under a Pool Screen?

You need to choose between a pool with a pool screen and a pool without one? Perhaps you want to make a decision based on whether you will tan under it.

Then today’s article answering, “Can you get a tan under a pool screen?” will be very useful for you. Continue reading to get the essential information! 

Can You Get a Tan Under a Pool Screen?

Yes, you can get tan under a pool screen. 
This is because a pool screen is not designed to filter out or provide protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, which is what causes your skin to tan. 

A pool screen’s main purpose is to keep debris, bugs, and other pests from making their way into the pool. 
However, UV rays are largely blocked by glass (100% of UVB & UVC cannot enter, while only some percentage of UVA gets through). That being said, pool screens made of glass may not be able to give you the tan you want at all or give it to you very slowly. 

Why Is Tanning Under a Pool Screen Better? 

The fine mesh of a pool screen does offer you a shade. This entails that it has the ability to slow down your tanning rate. In other words, under a pool screen, you may not tan as quickly as you would under direct sunlight. Yet, there are still two key reasons why it is better to tan under a pool screen: 

More shade offered 

A small portion of the sun’s rays is ultraviolet (UV) rays. These rays prompt your skin to produce melanin, which is a natural dark pigment that gives you a tan and prevents you from burning. 
But under direct sunlight, the ultraviolet rays can damage your skin, eyes, and even your immune system. 
Therefore, under a pool screen, you can tan while reducing the negative consequences of direct sunlight exposure. 
Even though pool screens cannot block 100% of UV rays, they can still block 30% – 80%, and therefore, help you minimize the negative consequences you may encounter. 

More privacy offered 

The pool screen can act as a barrier, enclosing your personal space. As a result, you get to enjoy more privacy and “me time” while you are tanning. You will not feel intruded on. Instead, your tanning experience will be comfortable. 

How Can I Get a Good Tan Under a Pool Screen? 

Prep before tanning 

Preparing your skin before you head out to your tanning session can make a difference. 
This includes cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing. 

• Cleansing: Clean and clear skin makes a good surface for tans to develop on. You should use a good cleanser (a cleanser without harsh ingredients, chemicals, and matches your skin type) to bathe and wash before going out for a tan. 
• Exfoliating: Exfoliating before tanning ensures that the tan develops on new skin and does this evenly. You can use a brush, bath puff, loofah, or scrub to slough off the impurities, including dead skin, debris, dirt, and dust. 
• Moisturizing: Dry skin flakes off easily, and this prevents the tan from developing nicely. So you want to moisturize and hydrate your skin well before you go ahead and tan. Apply a light and even layer of moisturizer and pay close attention to the drier parts of your skin, such as your knees, ankles, and elbows.  It is even better if you can do this for several days leading up to your tanning session. 

Use sunscreen

A lot of people assume that you cannot get a tan with sunscreen on. But this is a myth. It is crucial that you apply sunscreen before you go tanning. as it will ensure that you get a safe tan. 
When you are out for a tan, the sun rays that hit your skin can burn and damage it, but wearing sunscreen help prevents this. 
Sunscreen lengthens the time it takes until burning occurs. Therefore, it does not affect how deep a tan is or the time it takes for a tan to show. 
Sunscreen prevents the sun’s rays from causing skin cancer and photoaging. In addition, it limits the risk of skin inflammation, which can result in other skin problems, such as wrinkles and age spots. 
That is why you always need to wear sunscreen — it does not matter if it is a cloudy day, as there will still be 80% of UV rays in the sky. 
Some people justify that a burn can fade into a tan. But this a dangerous way of thinking. You should not be proud of a glow that results from redness fading. 

Tan at the right time

Before you choose a time to tan, check the calendar and weather forecast. The best time to tan out in the sun is between 10 A.M and 4 P.M. But this can be affected by several different factors, such as where you are and what season it is. 

Note that if you are closer to the equator or higher up (i.e., on a mountain), the sunlight exposure will be more direct and intense. If it is a hot month, cut down on your session duration. 
But that is not to say you must tan during the peak period of 10 A.M to 4 P.M. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to go with when the sun is less harsh and milder.
One way to decide is with the “shadow method.” Stand out in the sun and observe your shadow. If it is taller than you, the UV rays will not be as intense! 
As for the weather, it goes without saying that it is better to tan on a sunny day. You can still tan on a cloudy day, but it will take a longer time because clouds reduce some of the sun’s UV rays, though it does not block them all. (Still, wearing sunscreen is necessary.) 
Note: If you have fair skin, tanning in the morning or after 3 pm is ideal to avoid getting sunburns. 

Change positions often 

This is important to get an even tan. We recommend starting on your back, then turning to your left side, your stomach, and finally, your right side. 
You should also remember to change your arms and legs’ positions often. In any case, you want to ensure that you are evenly exposing your body to the sun. 
Note: You should change positions every 15 to 30 minutes. 

How Can I Tan Quicker Under a Pool Screen? 

Use a low SPF sunscreen 

A low SPF sunscreen still offers you some protection but can help you get a tan quickly. 

• A sunscreen with at least 30 SPF is ideal. This SPF level is enough to shield your skin from UVA and UVB rays, but it will not interfere or prevent you from getting your tan. You should use at least a whole ounce of sunscreen and apply it 20 minutes before you head out under the sun. 
• If you already have a light tan, you can lower the SPF. 
• And if this is your first time tanning, opt for SPF 30 to avoid sunburns. 

Sunscreens can come as rub-on lotions, oil rubs, mists, and aerosol sprays. Ones with a water texture tend to spread more easily across and over the skin, so they make a better for the most even tan possible. 
Note: You should reapply sunscreen every two hours or after you have come into contact with water. 

Use a natural tan enhancer as a base tan 

You can use a natural tan enhancer as your base tan instead of a store-bought one.

The options are plenty: avocado oil, coconut oil, hazelnut oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, wheat-germ oil, etc. These natural oils can attract the sun and hence, give your skin an olive glow. 

Lay on a float on the water

Water reflects sunlight. This suggests that sunlight will reflect off the water and bounce onto you when you lay on a floatation device on a body of water. There is also additional UV light that is refracted at different angles from the water, sending the light to you. 
As a result, on the water, you absorb the (1) light directly from the sun, (2) light reflected, and (3) light refracted. Your total exposure and absorption of sunlight will enable you to tan more quickly.

How Can I Reduce The Chance of Tanning?

If you want to shield your skin and not tan, then propping up a pool screen is not a bad idea. While it cannot filter out UV rays, it can give you a shade and dial down the speed at which a tan can occur. 
Aside from that, you can opt for these other sun protection measures: 

• Put on a hat to protect your face
• Put on sunglasses to protect your eyes
• Put on clothing that covers your skin. Avoid wearing dark colors, like black, as they absorb more UV. It is better to wear whites and pastels. 
• Use a lip balm with at least SPF 15 as your lips do not need to tan but dry, cracked lips as a result of being under the sun can be very painful. 

Conclusion

As you have read, the answer to “

Can you get a tan under a pool screen?” is yes because a pool screen is meant to protect our pool from bugs, insects, leaves, and debris, not filter out ultraviolet (UV) rays. 
Hopefully, you have found the information in the article useful. If you have any further questions, please reach out to us in the comments. Leave any thoughts that you want to share there as well!