Summer is synonymous with sun, sand, and the urge to soak up as many rays as possible. However, as enticing as a sun-kissed glow might be, neglecting to wear sunscreen can lead to some epic sunbathing disasters. The consequences can range from painful burns to long-term skin damage.
Here are some stories and images that highlight the importance of slathering on that SPF before heading outdoors.
#1 The Hair On The Pale Part Of My Watch Tan Is Black, But The Hair On The Tan Part Of My Arm Is White

Image source: jamaicanhopscotch
#2 Took My Boyfriend To The Beach Today, And He Fell Asleep In The Sun. This Is The Result

Image source: be.my.serene
#3 Someone Didn’t Want To Ask For Help With Their Sunscreen

Image source: thedeparted85
#4 The Difference Between My And My Brother’s Tan

Image source: YungTinkerbell
#5 My Sock Tan Looks Like I Have Socks On

Image source: IcyIsosceles
#6 Perks Of Having Red Hair: Free Cancer

Image source: jessesewell
#7 Just A Friendly Public Service Announcement: Make Sure Your Sunblock Is Not Expired And You Actually Use It

Image source: tammyroe20
#8 Awful Sunburn. It Hurts

Image source: Hillary0631
#9 My Husband Got Scalp Edema From A Severe Sunburn

Image source: hippy_potto
#10 Well, It’s Official, I’m An Idiot, And Summer Has Just Begun

Image source: rkyrocrat
#11 When I Was A Teenager I Found Some Tanning Foam And Put A Stripe On My Wrist. Liked It So Much I Did My Arms And Legs. Nobody Was Amused But Me. It Lasted A Couple Months

Image source: Dr-Not-a-Milkman
#12 I Recently Went To Hawaii And Got A Gnarly Sunburn As Seen Here. Ended Up Getting A Case Of “Hell’s Itch”, Which Was Genuinely The Worst Pain I’ve Ever Experienced

Image source: dragonxmother
#13 My Sunburn From A Few Days Ago Started To Peel. I Went For A Run Today And All The Sweat Got Caught Underneath The Dead Skin And Formed A Lot Of Sweat Bubbles

Image source: wifi_is_fake
#14 I Work Outdoors, This Is The Color Difference Of My Hand And My Foot

Image source: 420trainwreck
#15 New Rule: No Matter How Much The Sunscreen Costs (After You Drunkenly Lose The One You Brought) You Buy It

Image source: emfordhall
#16 What Do You Think Of My Tan?

Image source: travelling__tales
#17 Oh Yeah. Now That’s Different

Image source: dirtbagpoet.of.troy
#18 My Friend’s Crazy Tan Lines

Image source: sanjirou3
#19 My Son’s Sunburn Matches The Gradient Of His Shirt

Image source: hellotypewriter
#20 Never Underestimate The Power Of The Sun. Fun Fact: The Sky Was Cloudy Almost The Entire Day. The Reflective Snow Alone Was Enough To Burn My Face Completely

Image source: exploreandremember
#21 Husband’s Summer Tan Looks Like A Stranger’s Hand

Image source: IrisHopp
#22 I Was Working Inside, But Next To A Large Garage Door That I Had Open. I Was In “I’m Inside, Don’t Need Sunscreen” Mode, Not Realizing That I Was Still Very Much In Direct Sunlight

Image source: rabbidplatypus21
#23 Love My New Slip-On Vans, Hate The Tan Lines

Image source: BlueMacaw
#24 I Forgot To Put Sun Block On My Legs During A Kayak Trip On The Lake

Image source: Tekki
#25 My Cousin’s Neat Tan

Image source: wowwhatagreataudience
#26 Day In The Sun + Backwards Cap = Awkward Sunburn. Top Effort Dom

Image source: kmarkham_golf_fitness
#27 The Duality Of Pale, Strongest Sunscreen, Most Time On The Shade, Avoiding Strongest Hours And Still This Happened

Image source: al3237
I am burning so much. I have 2 fans against me, and it’s still not enough.
#28 Sunburn On Vacation

Image source: MapleSyrupLover_
#29 My Tanned And Untanned Skin Tones Are Drastically Different

Image source: CATNIP_IS_CRACK
#30 Oh, Your Shoulder Is Sore? You Should Get It Taped, They Said. It Will Help With The Pain, They Said. Except No One Mentioned To Maybe Put On More Sunscreen

Image source: fayenault
#31 Today I Got A Raccoon Sunburn And My Chain Around My Neck Tan Too

Image source: deans_pix
#32 My Burn From A Few Years Ago. Still Remember The Horrific Pain, Worst Sunburn I’ve Ever Experienced

Image source: sarahdasgupta
#33 I Went Kayaking In Florida Six Days Ago And Got The Worst Sunburn (Yes, I Put Sunscreen On). I Typically Don’t Use The Spray Kind, So I Thought I Had Applied It Well, But Apparently Not

Image source: earthling1117
#34 After All These Years, Still Trying To Figure Out How Much Sunscreen To Use ?? Usually I Don’t Get A Lot Of Sun Under My Hair. Well You Can Clearly See That Theory Didn’t Work For Me This Time

Image source: mat_brooks
#35 Husker Day Burns. Ouch

Image source: aliciakadavy