Window Tint

One of the things that I am frequently asked to do as a dermatologist is to prescribe window tint for patients’ vehicles. Some patients even have been instructed by window tinting personnel to ask me for a prescription for their car windows tinted beyond the legal limit. In this post, I will discuss window tint as it relates to dermatology, and it will serve as a guide for patients with this request in the future.

As far as skin is concerned, the primary purpose for window tinting is UV protection. Glass has some built-in UVA protection, but for best protection of the skin, dermatologists recommend window film that blocks 100% of UVA and UVB rays.

Blocking 100% of UVA and UVB rays can now be achieved with CLEAR window film. Therefore, from a dermatology standpoint, there is no medical reason for window tint beyond the legal limit.

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FAQ about window tinting:

Will insurance pay for window tinting?
Some patients have informed me that their insurance will cover window film if I write a prescription. In the future, I will prescribe window tint, but only for clear or window tint within the legal limit.

Why can’t you write for beyond the legal limit?
The legal limit exists for safety reasons. Again, there is no increase in UV protection with a darker tint. For reference, in West Virginia, the legal statute says that window tint needs to allow at least 35% of light pass.

Don’t forget to continue to apply sunscreen for the time you spend outside. For more info on how to protect yourself from the sun, visit

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