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The whiff of blossoming trees, sunshine on your skin, the cool refreshing water as you jump into a lake, and an increase in vitamin D levels—all of these things and many more are what makes summertime – a happy time. (Especially for those living in places with distinct four seasons and loooong dark winters.)

But one of the things that make summer the best time of the year for many, can also make it the worst; for a day or two, at least. I’m talking about said sunshine on your skin, which can get pretty harsh.

It’s safe to assume that most people have been sunburnt at least once or twice; chances are, you have been, too, so you might know just how painful and inconvenient it can be. But for some people, in addition to all that, it’s also embarrassing—or funny, depending on how you look at it—because of the tan they are left with.

Well, to make you feel better about your own tan, if you’ve already experienced a tanning session gone wrong, or to simply remind you to properly apply sunscreen, we’re coming to you today with some of the worst sunburns the internet has ever seen. Our team has combed the online world and found quite a few unfortunate cases, so scroll down to find them, and use this chance to learn from fellow netizens’ mistakes.

On the list below, you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with a Professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Connecticut, Dr. Sherry Pagoto, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about sunburn and skin damage.

#1

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

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

Dr-Not-a-Milkman Report

#2

My Son’s Sunburn Matches The Gradient Of His Shirt

My Son’s Sunburn Matches The Gradient Of His Shirt

hellotypewriter Report

#3

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

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

exploreandremember Report

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xolitaire
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She literally has red/strawberry blonde hair and super light. How can you not use sunscreen. I have that skintype and hair and I would literally burn to a crisp

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Imagine yourself in a sunny spot near a body of water; you’re relaxing as you listen to the quiet fuss of the people around you when you slowly drift asleep. You wake up a couple of hours later to see that your body is a soft shade of red crab.

This scenario has likely happened to many of us, but for some reason, we often fail to learn from our mistakes – come next summer, we’ll likely do it again.

#4

Husband's Summer Tan Looks Like A Stranger's Hand

Husband's Summer Tan Looks Like A Stranger's Hand

IrisHopp Report

#5

Took My Boyfriend To The Beach Today, And He Fell Asleep In The Sun. This Is The Result

Took My Boyfriend To The Beach Today, And He Fell Asleep In The Sun. This Is The Result

be.my.serene Report

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While the unfortunate tans on this list might look amusing, in reality, sunburn is far from funny. Not only does it usually hurt (and becomes itchy when healing later), according to Dr. Sherry Pagoto, it can increase one’s risk for melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.

“Your risk is even worse if anyone in your family has had melanoma,” she said in an interview with Bored Panda. “Another thing to think about melanoma is that it is a very recurrent cancer. If you get it once, you are likely to get it again, so even if you beat it, you have to live with the fear of recurrence every day. That’s a worry you really don’t want, just ask someone who’s had melanoma!”

#6

The Hair On The Pale Part Of My Watch Tan Is Black, But The Hair On The Tan Part Of My Arm Is White

The Hair On The Pale Part Of My Watch Tan Is Black, But The Hair On The Tan Part Of My Arm Is White

jamaicanhopscotch Report

#7

Perks Of Having Red Hair: Free Cancer

Perks Of Having Red Hair: Free Cancer

jessesewell Report

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The expert continued to point out that melanoma is the most prevalent form of cancer in the US, however, its risk can be minimized by wearing photoprotection, such as sunscreen, which can also prevent burns and skin damage.

#9

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

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

rabbidplatypus21 Report

#10

My Husband Got Scalp Edema From A Severe Sunburn

My Husband Got Scalp Edema From A Severe Sunburn

hippy_potto Report

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Jack Burton
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

During a trip to Dominican Republic my wife got cornrows for the first time and she is really pale white european. She always put a lot of sunscreen. Her scalp swollen between the cornrows and on the forehead, she looked like an alien or a Buffy vapire slayer vilain for the last days of the trip.

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#11

Awful Sunburn. It Hurts

Awful Sunburn. It Hurts

Hillary0631 Report

Discussing the damage the sun causes to our skin, Dr. Pagoto emphasized that it doesn’t need to be burnt to be damaged. “When the skin tans, it is a sign it has had too much exposure to ultraviolet radiation and that the skin is attempting to protect itself from further damage. Some people like the tanned look, but tanning negatively impacts the integrity of your skin which leads to premature aging and cancer risk. If you like the tanned look, I highly recommend sunless tanning products because they cause no harm to the skin.”

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#12

Just A Friendly Public Service Announcement: Make Sure Your Sunblock Is Not Expired And You Actually Use It

Just A Friendly Public Service Announcement: Make Sure Your Sunblock Is Not Expired And You Actually Use It

tammyroe20 Report

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Scarlett O'Hara's Ghost
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I learned the hard way that sunblock expiration dates are real. At a waterpark. In the summer. In Arizona. Now the leftovers go on the trash and new is bought every year!

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#13

Someone Didn’t Want To Ask For Help With Their Sunscreen

Someone Didn’t Want To Ask For Help With Their Sunscreen

thedeparted85 Report

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xolitaire
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Use a spray. This way you can a) reach a lot of your back yourself and b) someone else helping you is not awkward.

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#14

The Difference Between My And My Brother's Tan

The Difference Between My And My Brother's Tan

YungTinkerbell Report

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Libstak
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Left is the colour of my skin. That or lobster red, there is no in between, I use a high level of suncreen and yet...

Scott Sheehan
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get second degree burns from too much direct sunlight for a couple hours.

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Trillian
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My little daughter has a friend like that. His skin is so white is looks blueish. His mom is forever chasing him with sunblock and long sleeved shirts.

LokisLilButterknife
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m originally from the UK and the arm on the left has to be one of the palest arms I’ve seen. 😳

Upstaged75
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LOL I don't think "tan" applies to the one on the left. My arms never get that pale but my legs are similarly blinding white. I feel like I need to apologize to people for blinding them when I first break out my shorts in the Spring. :) My brother is strawberry blond and pale with freckles, and one time when he was traveling abroad in Italy he got asked if he was an albino. Ha!

Jeff Hunt
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like the difference between “plays outside” and “plays x-box in the basement”.

Sarah Jay Co
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My eldest son is not an outdoorsy person. But he gets tan after a few hours in the sun. My middle son is pale (like me) and he spends most of his time outside. He never gets a tan. It’s just the way our skin is 🤷‍♀️

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EP
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I literally thought the left was a mannequin arm before reading the caption.

arthbach
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This could be a photograph of my brother and me. One summer, I was showing off my tan, and I did indeed have a tan. There was a distinct colour difference between the pale blue of my skin under my watch, and the white on my forearm. My brother put his arm next to me. There area under his watch was darker than the darkest part of my arm. (Yup, same parents. Ain't genes wonderful.)

Ben
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this might be a Weekend at Bernies situation.

JL
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The Difference Between My Non-Tan And My Brother's Tan" --fixed it for you.

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You might think that you’ve heard of other ways, other than sunless tanning products, to achieve a tanned look without having to cook in the sun like a potato in a fire. But chances are, the information you heard is not much more than a myth.

“The most common misconception is that a tan protects you from skin cancer,” Dr. Pagoto told Bored Panda, discussing popular sun- or tan-based myths. “Prolonged sun exposure damages the skin and can lead to DNA mutations that lead to cancer. We have to remember that the sun is emitting radiation, and radiation exposure is not healthy.”

#15

Well, It's Official, I'm An Idiot, And Summer Has Just Begun

Well, It's Official, I'm An Idiot, And Summer Has Just Begun

rkyrocrat Report

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Zara VP
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've got something similar to this on summer- I forgot to reapply sunscreen. Some of the worst pain I have experienced. Nothing helped.

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#16

Love My New Slip-On Vans, Hate The Tan Lines

Love My New Slip-On Vans, Hate The Tan Lines

BlueMacaw Report

It’s unclear if being more aware of the damage the sun can cause deters people from sunbathing, but statistics from nearly a decade between 2011 and 2020 show that interest in sunbathing seems to be shrinking.

According to Statista, the number of people in the US who went tanning—be it once, a couple, or more than four times—in the last six months in 2020 was lower than the years before. For instance, while in 2012, close to four million people went sunbathing more than four times within the span of half-a-year, in 2020 the number dropped to roughly two million.

#18

Day In The Sun + Backwards Cap = Awkward Sunburn. Top Effort Dom

Day In The Sun + Backwards Cap = Awkward Sunburn. Top Effort Dom

kmarkham_golf_fitness Report

#19

I Forgot To Put Sun Block On My Legs During A Kayak Trip On The Lake

I Forgot To Put Sun Block On My Legs During A Kayak Trip On The Lake

Tekki Report

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sbj
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ouch! I can feel the pain just looking at this photo

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#20

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

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

wifi_is_fake Report

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If you’ve enjoyed browsing these pictures of some of the most unfortunate tans there are—or if you’re still not convinced that sunscreen is a good idea—continue to Bored Panda’s previous edition on tans-gone-wrong for more.

#22

I Work Outdoors, This Is The Color Difference Of My Hand And My Foot

I Work Outdoors, This Is The Color Difference Of My Hand And My Foot

420trainwreck Report

#23

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

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

earthling1117 Report

#24

New Rule: No Matter How Much The Sunscreen Costs (After You Drunkenly Lose The One You Brought) You Buy It

New Rule: No Matter How Much The Sunscreen Costs (After You Drunkenly Lose The One You Brought) You Buy It

emfordhall Report

#25

My Friend's Crazy Tan Lines

My Friend's Crazy Tan Lines

sanjirou3 Report

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nonesuch
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love his carefree posture. Oblivious to his odd tan markings. Just concentrating on catching that big one.

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#27

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

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

mat_brooks Report

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#28

My Sunburn Line Perfectly Follows My Vein

My Sunburn Line Perfectly Follows My Vein

Grc280 Report

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Chonky Panda
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's interesting, does anyone who know why? Or was it just that the shirt/cover lined up perfectly?

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#30

I've Put Sunscreen On My Face And Wiped My Fingers On My Arm

I've Put Sunscreen On My Face And Wiped My Fingers On My Arm

Coperoni Report

#31

I Think I Missed Some Spots

I Think I Missed Some Spots

jcrawf05 Report

#32

Thought I Would Get A Nice Base Tan Helping Out At My Customer's Farm For A Couple Hours

Thought I Would Get A Nice Base Tan Helping Out At My Customer's Farm For A Couple Hours

SnowboardingEgg Report

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Papa
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had a client where I work years ago who was working outside and took his shirt off around lunchtime one day. Several people told him he should put it back on, but he said "It will be fine. I go outside without a shirt all the time back home in New York." Buddy, you aren't in New York anymore. The next day he was wishing he had listened.

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#33

The After Effects Of Spending All Weekend In The Pool Wearing Sunglasses

The After Effects Of Spending All Weekend In The Pool Wearing Sunglasses

meghanly86 Report

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Queeqec
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are wearing your sunglasses wrong, if the skin around the eyes an the lids are tanned.

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#34

I Came Across This Picture Of A Sunburn I Got When I Was 17 Years Old At A NASCAR Race

I Came Across This Picture Of A Sunburn I Got When I Was 17 Years Old At A NASCAR Race

June_Third_2024 Report

#35

My Tanned And Untanned Skin Tones Are Drastically Different

My Tanned And Untanned Skin Tones Are Drastically Different

CATNIP_IS_CRACK Report

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#36

Missed Sunscreen

Missed Sunscreen

KarmaDeliveryMan Report

#37

Spent Two Days In The Glorious Sunshine Working Outside And Did Not Anticipate Getting A Tan. Guess I’ll Keep The Thumb Splint On A Bit Longer

Spent Two Days In The Glorious Sunshine Working Outside And Did Not Anticipate Getting A Tan. Guess I’ll Keep The Thumb Splint On A Bit Longer

BirdieFive Report

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Upstaged75
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She was obviously working in the garden - do you all have perfectly clean hands after that?

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#39

The Duality Of Pale, Strongest Sunscreen, Most Time On The Shade, Avoiding Strongest Hours And Still This Happened

The Duality Of Pale, Strongest Sunscreen, Most Time On The Shade, Avoiding Strongest Hours And Still This Happened

I am burning so much. I have 2 fans against me, and it's still not enough.

al3237 Report

#41

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

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

dragonxmother Report

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xolitaire
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But what part of "going to Hawaii" does not scream "I need sunscreen" to you?

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#42

My Burn From A Few Years Ago. Still Remember The Horrific Pain, Worst Sunburn I've Ever Experienced

My Burn From A Few Years Ago. Still Remember The Horrific Pain, Worst Sunburn I've Ever Experienced

sarahdasgupta Report

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Jeff Hunt
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the top of your feet is the worst. That and the top of your head.

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#43

Today I Got A Raccoon Sunburn And My Chain Around My Neck Tan Too

Today I Got A Raccoon Sunburn And My Chain Around My Neck Tan Too

deans_pix Report

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#44

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

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

fayenault Report

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Spittnimage
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So it's their fault because they didn't tell a grown woman to put on sunscreen.

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#47

Went To An Amusement Park And Forgot Sunscreen But The Paint They Marked Me With Left A Tan Line

Went To An Amusement Park And Forgot Sunscreen But The Paint They Marked Me With Left A Tan Line

judith-has-a-knife Report

#48

The Way My Bracelet Created This Tan Line

The Way My Bracelet Created This Tan Line

kgxdfrey Report

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Bored Birgit
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wolfgang Petry, is that you? (German singer who wore dozens of friendship bracelets)

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#49

The Sun Is My Greatest Nemesis

The Sun Is My Greatest Nemesis

Rose262 Report

#50

Went To A Music Festival, Got This Gnarly Sunburn

Went To A Music Festival, Got This Gnarly Sunburn

TheBlitzkid46 Report

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justanotherweirdo
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would’ve thought all the people would shade your legs (still should put on sunscreen, but would’ve thought your legs would get less sun)

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Note: this post originally had 74 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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