sunscreen. it's an ointment that prevents the sun's heat from penetrating the skin as strongly, preventing burns. it's also wise to use it even if you're in the water because water amplifies the sun's rays despite being very cool comparatively.
humans are both immensely durable and incredibly fragile. exposure to the heat and direct sunlight without breaks can cause damage to the skin, which can take up to a week to heal.
they don't have the same natural protections as other species. it allows them more adaptability- they can live anywhere they can breathe, basically- but they're also very sensitive to the environment without proper protection.
i wouldn't consider it the same as baking though? but it can be really painful and very unpleasant, and takes days to heal. covering up or sunscreen is a good way to prevent it, though the latter you should reapply every two hours.
oh no i'm being serious. sunlight is IMMENSELY dangerous and our planet has a barrier strong enough to protect itself from being nothing more than a barren rock, but not enough to keep it 100% safe. given what others have been saying here its probably the same for this world as well.
Sunscreen can either be made of a category of ingredients called "physical blockers" or "chemical blockers". Physical blockers contain minerals such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide ground into fine particles. They sit on the surface of the skin and reflect UV rays away from the skin, much akin to a mirror. Chemical sunscreen ingredients form a thin protective film that absorbs UV radiation before it penetrates the skin, so they're quite different.
Physical blocking sunscreen isn't known to cause skin irritation, but goes on white and somewhat sticky like lotion. Chemical sunscreens are easier to apply and go on clear, but due to the chemicals in them, people with sensitive skin might find that their skin gets irritated.
In general, you want something that's SPF 30 or higher, and protects from both UVA and UVB rays, and ideally is waterproof considering where we are currently.
NOT using sunscreen means you're completely unprotected and can develop complications, the most minor being a sunburn — which, if bad enough, will cause your epidermis to peel off — and other ones being the loss of skin elasticity (wrinkles), uneven skin texture, and spider veins. At the worst, it can cause immune system suppression, premature ageing, and skin cancer. Skin cancer can and will kill you, and you'll be covered in colour-changing moles, open sores, and other such things that I know some of you beauty-queen types don't want to deal with.
Wear sunscreen. Let me know if you need help applying it and I'll show you how.
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