Sunscreen necessary right around sundown?

I'm very, very fair.  When I'm out and about in the daytime I wear makeup with sunscreen in it, and I cover my arms and legs.  I only go outside in the sun to catch my bus, or to walk between my car and a store.

I'd like to go to our neighborhood pool and spend an hour or so in the evening, from 8:00pm until the pool closes at 9:00 without blocking up.  By the time I get there, the entire pool is shaded by the clubhouse, and I can cover up between my house and the pool for the 5-minute walk.

Sunblock, no matter how hypoallergenic it claims to be, blocks my pores and gives me breakouts.  I have to spend half an hour in the bathtub after getting home from the pool scrubbing it off with lots of soap, and I still can feel a film on my skin.

So, am I taking much of a risk if I'm only out when the sun is on the horizon, or just below it?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Usually the sunscreen is to be worn in the peak sun hours like 9 to 5 pm. But if your skin is sensitive to sun and you show solar urticaria, then you can wear a water based or a slight oil based sunscreen as heavy ones can clog your pores and cause acne.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.