4 Things to Know About Waiting to Swim After Applying Sunscreen

Wait at least 15 minutes with chemical sunscreen Chemical sunscreens need time to absorb into the skin to work. Jumping in right away rinses it off before it becomes effective.

Physical sunscreens work immediately but still need drying time Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide reflect UV right away. But they wash off faster if you don’t let the lotion dry for a few minutes.

Water-resistant labels count time after the wait A 40- or 80-minute water-resistant rating starts after the initial wait. The clock resets every time you towel off or sweat.

Reapply immediately after swimming Don’t trust the bottle’s claims too much. Reapply after every swim regardless of the label.