Do Kids Really Need Sun Protection on Cloudy or Cool Days?

Do Kids Really Need Sun Protection on Cloudy or Cool Days?

I can’t count how many times I’ve heard this line in my dermatology office:

“I didn’t use sunscreen because it was cloudy!”

Then I look at my patient on the exam table — skin pink, warm, and they sheepishly apologize for coming to see me with a visible sunburn. 

☁️ The Cloudy Day Myth

It’s one of the most common misconceptions I see in my practice. People assume that if the sun’s hiding behind clouds, their skin is safe. But here’s the truth:

👉 Up to 80% of UV rays still penetrate cloud cover.

That means even on overcast or cool days, your child’s skin is quietly soaking up ultraviolet radiation — especially UVA rays, which cause long-term DNA damage, aging, and increase the risk of skin cancer later in life.

So even if your kid is wearing a jacket, the parts that aren’t covered — cheeks, neck, hands — are still exposed.

😬 “But It Wasn’t Even Hot!”

This one’s another sneaky myth: temperature has nothing to do with UV exposure.

I’ve seen so many horrible sunburns when there's plenty of snow on the ground. Cool air can lull us into skipping sunscreen or hats — but UV radiation doesn’t care about the temperature.

Even snow reflects up to 80% of UV rays, which means your child can get burned from above and below. (That’s why ski-season sunburns are so common here in Colorado!)

🧴 What You Should Do Instead

You don’t need to obsess over every cloud in the sky — but you do need a routine. Make sun protection part of the daily habit, not just something you do at the pool.

Here’s a dermatologist-approved routine for cloudy or cool days:

  • Dress for defense: Choose UPF 50+ clothing that covers arms, legs, and neck. It protects against both UVA and UVB rays, all day, no reapplication needed.
  • Add a hat & sunglasses: A wide-brim UPF bucket hat shields the scalp, face, and ears (some of the most commonly burned spots). Eye protection is also super important - as excessive UV contributes to cataract formation and other eye conditions like macular degeneration. 
  • Sunscreen for exposed skin: Apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen on the face, neck, and hands — even if it’s cloudy.
  • Check the UV index: Anything above 3 means it’s time to protect, no matter what the weather looks like.
  • 💡 Pro tip: Set a reminder on your phone or keep a small bottle of sunscreen near your child’s hats or shoes — so it becomes as automatic as brushing teeth.

☀️ A Quick Science Moment

  • UVA rays (aging rays) are constant year-round and penetrate through clouds and windows (including car windows!).
  • UVB rays (burning rays) vary with season and time of day, but still reach your skin even when it’s overcast.

That means if you can see daylight, UV rays can reach you.

💬 From My Clinic Chair

Last fall, one of my long-time patients came in with a deep pink sunburn across her cheeks and nose. When I asked what happened, she laughed and said,

“It was cloudy when we left the house! Then the sun came out at lunch, and I didn’t think to reapply.”

That’s the trap — UV exposure builds quietly, hour by hour, until it adds up to a burn. And that single burn in childhood more than doubles the risk of melanoma later in life.

As a dermatologist — and a mom who spends weekends chasing two little boys outside — I know that preventing those burns isn’t about perfection. It’s about small, consistent protection habits that add up over time.

👕 The Easy Way to Stay Protected

When your kids are in UPF 50+ clothing, you’ve already done most of the work. No sticky reapplications, no wrestling with wiggly toddlers mid-park day.

That’s why I designed Alpenshade’s baby sunsuits, sun hoodies and reversible bucket hats — dermatologist-approved protection that feels good, looks good, and actually stays on your kid.

Because the best sun protection is the one your child will actually wear.

☀️ Bottom Line

If you can see daylight, UV rays are reaching your child’s skin.
Clouds don’t block radiation — they just make you forget it’s there.

So whether it’s cloudy, cool, or snowing — cover up, hat up, sunglasses on, and keep that skin protected.

Written by Dr. Jenna Peart, Board-Certified Dermatologist & Founder of Alpenshade

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