How to Apply Sunscreen on Your Own Back

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Spending some quality alone time in the sun? Here's how to prevent a painful sunburn when flying solo.

Step 1: Use the reach method
Try the reach method. Put a generous amount of sunscreen on your right hand, reach over your left shoulder and spread it onto your back; repeat on the other side.

Tip
Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going out to allow it to absorb into your skin.

Step 2: Reach the lower parts of your back
Reach your right hand under your left arm to get just below where your reach ended from going over your shoulder, and then reach your left hand under your right arm. Finally, twist your right hand behind the right side of your back and your left hand behind the left side of your back to get the rest.

Tip
Don't skimp on sunscreen. It takes 1 to 1 1/2 ounces -- the amount it takes to fill a shot glass -- to adequately cover the average body.

Step 3: Use a towel
Apply your sunscreen to a towel and rub it back and forth over your back, as if you were toweling off after a shower. It's not the most economical way to apply sunscreen, but it works.

Step 4: Use an applicator
Use a body lotion applicator, available at most health and beauty stores. These resemble paint rollers, but are designed for the thicker consistency of a lotion.

Step 5: Use a back scrubber
Use a no-hands back scrubber, a sponge mounted on a handle usually used for washing your back. Substitute your sunscreen for soap or body wash, and you're covered.

Step 6: Use a back-scratcher
Attach a soft sponge to the scratching end of a back-scratcher. Use tape, glue, or string to tie the sponge on, squirt the sunscreen onto the sponge head, and go to town.

Step 7: Get help
Remember -- you can always ask an attractive stranger. It's a great way to break the ice.

Did You Know?
Childhood sun exposure plays a critical role in the risk of developing skin cancer as an adult.

[SuperDS]

Place some sunscreen on the front sunscreen bottle or any bottle and reach around to areas of your back that you can't access. I do that all the time for areas I can't reach and it's never let me down.

[MikeyWand]

Decent options, but they weren't steps, they were options.

[robprzywojski]

Yo that back scratcher with a sponge is legendary I’m doing it tomorrow

[gloriinhers]

@Midoriko2nd I thought so at first too but it looks to me like she's blind. Watch @ 1:18 when she reaches for the bottle. It's pretty obvious she's blind.

[selenablack]

Yep thanks for that I was wondering about I like the towle step and the sponge 😊

[rhiana]

I like the last one best, ask an attractive stranger to do it x

[zeejo]

I'm going to try the back scratcher with the sponge.

[TooMaNySsiiNNs]

cool, very useful! gonna apply lotion now and go out in the snow!

[safctilidie]

Oh yeah, I've travelled half way round the world solo. Just need to find a hardware store here in Bali...

[simonmikkelsen]

Place the sunscreen on the side of a moon rocket. Send it around the moon and back to Earth. When it passes, put your back out and you got sunscreen.

[itsjustme]

Awesome 👌 pity I only found this 10 years later 😆

[traceygrimshaw]

Can I send you the bill after I get skin cancer?

[pminCali]

If you're showing completely different ways to do something, they are not steps.

[petfan]

Or if you're double jointed, like myself, you can put it on with your hands !

[ibemonsterable]

She is way to happy when applying it with her hands.

[dummekopf]

oh my u guys srsly make a how to on this??? <.<

[Sequins_]

@goobertime102 Then it's really hard to play volleyball

[Lockheim]

Who ever made this doesn't know what "step" means

[Thedudefromx]

Calling them 'steps' doesn't make sense. At least 4 of them are the same fucking thing. Still a very useful video and I look forward to not having a big red square on my back come summertime.

[TrippySkillets]

At some points it looks like shes blind the way she acts.