Bryan Johnson reveals top rule for maintaining baby skin

If you can’t live forever, Bryan Johnson at least wants you to look good while you’re here.

The anti-aging mogul recently took to social media to warn about the dark side of the sun — and shared his top tips for maintaining “baby skin” well into adulthood.

“The sun is definitely good for you and it feels great,” Johnson, 48, said in an Instagram post. “Too much of it at the wrong time can also lead to all kinds of photoaging and even cancer.”

The controversial biohacker was reacting to a viral video of a man who spent more than 70 years working outdoors, during which his legs were covered but his arms were left fully exposed to the sun.

The difference was striking: his upper body was deeply tanned, wrinkled and spotted, taking on a leathery texture, while his legs remained smooth and almost powder-soft.

“Wow, that is the real real effect of sun. People give me so much s–t,” Johnson remarked. “If you want to avoid looking like this when you get older, here’s what I would do.”

The goal, Johnson said, isn’t to avoid the sun entirely.

“It’s to have the right dose at the right time so you can get all the benefits of the sun without causing damage that you’ll come to regret,” he explained in another Instagram post.

Moderate sun exposure can support your health in many ways: it helps the body make vitamin D, strengthens bones, kills bacteria, improves sleep, boosts mood and strengthens the immune system.

To enjoy those benefits without sacrificing smooth skin — or increasing your cancer risk — Johnson recommends going outside when the UV index is low.

The UV index measures the strength of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, which can damage skin cells. On the scale, 1 indicates minimal risk of overexposure, while 11 or higher signals a very high risk.

“A rule of thumb I use is getting sun exposure when the UV index is below three,” Johnson said, noting that this usually means mornings or evenings.

When the UV index climbs above three, the longevity enthusiast turns to protective measures, like a hat or an umbrella that blocks the harmful rays.

He also applies mineral sunscreen. When choosing one, Johnson recommends selecting a product that shields against both UVA and UVB rays, which are linked to premature aging and sunburns, respectively.

“Try to avoid the chemical-based sunscreens,” Johnson advised.

Last year, he explained on Instagram that mineral-based sunscreens are less likely to be absorbed through the skin and are more environmentally friendly.

“Please don’t burn — it’s not worth the risks,” Johnson stressed.

Clearly, a lot of Americans could use the advice.

About two-thirds of high school students and nearly one-third of adults get sunburned at least once a year.

Worse, more than 33,000 of these burns are severe enough to require an emergency room visit, costing a staggering $11.2 million annually.

But the price isn’t just pain and peeling. Sunburns also cause wrinkles, sagging skin, hyperpigmentation and other signs of premature aging — while also sharply increasing the risk of skin cancer.

Across the US, more than 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day, and more than two die of the disease every hour, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Research shows that having a history of severe sunburns in childhood significantly raises the risk of developing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, one of the most common forms of skin cancer.

Sunburns also increase the risk of melanoma, which is less common but responsible for nearly all skin cancer deaths. A person’s risk doubles if they’ve had more than five sunburns in their lifetime.

In 2025, the American Cancer Society estimates roughly 104,960 new melanoma cases will be diagnosed, and about 8,430 people are expected to die from the disease.

“In summery, too much and too little of the sun is not good.” Johnson said. “You want just the right amount — like Goldilocks.”