Aussies are being warned about a little-known “myth” about sun protection after a bloke discovered it the hard way. Max thought he could escape the sun’s rays when he popped to Perth’s famed Cottesloe Beach last week as he was sat under a CoolCabana the whole time.

Despite being in the shade, he still received horrific burns on his back. The WA resident told Yahoo Lifestyle it certainly isn’t a mistake he will make again.

“The experience has been a clear reminder of the importance of comprehensive sun protection, even when you think you may not need it. Slip, slop, slap,” he said.

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Before leaving the house on Sunday, January 4, he whacked sunscreen onto his face and neck, but missed the rest of his body.

Max felt it wouldn’t be too much of an issue because he was going to be predominantly in the shade.

On that day, the maximum temperature for Perth was 32 degrees, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, however, it’s unclear what the UV rating was that day.

“We spent probably just over two hours at the beach,” he told Yahoo Lifestyle.

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“Most of that time was spent sitting under the cabana, only leaving it to swim.”

He reckons he would’ve been in the water only for about 10 to 15 minutes and returned to the shade of the cabana after each dip.

“Despite the heat, I didn’t immediately notice any discomfort at all. I didn’t feel the burn that you usually would, especially in Perth,” he added.

“And let’s be real, Perth heat is no joke. The UV exposure never even crossed my mind.”

He said the sunburn at the moment isn’t too horrific, but he notices it mostly when he’s lying down and it “feels like I’m sleeping on sharp pins”.

How can you get burnt while in the shade?

While there were a few moments where his skin was exposed to the sun, the extremity of his burns made it look like he was running around outside for hours.

But his experience has unearthed a commonly held belief that shade equals sun protection.

Some cabana products have up to UPF 50+ ratings for those sitting underneath them, which means they are able to filter out 98 per cent of UV rays.

UPF is ultraviolet protection factor, and it’s a similar rating system to SPF, but focuses on how much protection fabric can offer.

Cancer Council Victoria said it’s a “myth” that you can escape being burnt if you’re sitting in the shade.

“Actually, it’s UV radiation – not sunlight – that damages your skin,” the organisation said.

“Even though we can’t see or feel them, UV rays reflect off surfaces like sand, water and even grass.

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“So while a leafy tree or shade sail will block some UV rays, others will bounce from those sunny areas to reach your skin.

“That’s why you should always use all five sun protection measures – clothing, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and shade – for the best protection.”

You can also get burnt when it’s cloudy, which is why it’s important to keep an eye on the UV rating if you’re out and about.

In an article for The Conversation, University of Queensland professor of dermatology, H. Peter Soyer, and PhD candidate Katie Lee revealed sand can reflect up to 18 per cent of UV rays that hit the ground.

Concrete and the ocean can reflect up to 10 per cent each.

This means you could be copping the harmful effects of the sun from different angles, not just from up above.

Max reckons this is what made his burn go from a light rouge to lobster red, especially for his back.

He said his back was facing outwards towards the water and the sunlight likely reflected onto his skin without him noticing it.

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