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Which provides better sun protection: beach umbrella or SPF-100 sunscreen? That is the question researchers asked in their study that measured the sun protection provided by a standard beach umbrella versus sun protection provided by a sunscreen with an SPF of 100 under actual use conditions.

Most people believe that being under the shade is enough protection against direct sun exposure to exposed skin. However, the skin is still exposed to reflected and indirect UV rays from the sun. Sun protection behavior equates to skin cancer prevention but how effective are the usual sun protection tools, in this case, beach umbrella and sunscreen, under actual outside conditions?

The study, published in JAMA Dermatology, was conducted in Lake Lewisville, Texas from August 13 to 15 2014. There were 81 participants, 25 males and 56 females, who were randomly assigned to either the umbrella group or the sunscreen group. There was a total of 41 participants in the umbrella group and 40 participants in the sunscreen group.

The participants were asked to stay under the midday sun for 3.5 hours. A standard breach umbrella and a sunscreen of the same type and of the same size were used during the study. The participants then underwent clinical sunburn evaluation for all exposed body sites (face, upper chest, back of the neck, both arm, and both legs) after 22 to 24 hours after sun exposure.

The researchers found that during the 3.5 hours of sun exposure, 78 percent of the participants in the umbrella group developed sunburn versus 25 percent in the sunscreen group. It means that out of 41 participants in the umbrella group, 32 of them developed a sunburn in one or more exposed body sites versus 10 of 40 participants in the sunscreen group.

The study reports that a total of 142 sunburn incidences were recorded from the umbrella group versus the 17 sunburn incidences recorded from the sunscreen group.

The results of the study show that an SPF-100 sunscreen provided better sun protection compared to just the use of a beach umbrella. However, neither the beach umbrella or the sunscreen with SPF-100 provided complete sun protection. In other words, a beach umbrella or sunscreen alone can provide enough protection from the exposure of UV rays from the sun.

The researchers indicate that a combination approach (beach umbrella and sunscreen or other sun protection products and combinations) will provide optimal protection from direct sun exposure and UV rays. In addition, the study emphasizes the importance of informing the public that multiple sun protection is the best way to achieve complete sun protection.