Why is the sun bad for my skin?

Sunburns and suntans are signs that your skin has been damaged. This damage increases your risk of getting skin cancer.

What should I do to protect my skin from the sun?

Follow these "safe-sun" guidelines whenever you are in the sun:

Stay out of the sun, if you can, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun is strongest.
 
Wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants to protect your skin. Wear shirts made from tightly woven cloth, like long-sleeved cotton t-shirts. If the clothing fits loosely, you will feel cooler. Special sun-protective clothes are available from several companies, like Solumbra Sun Precautions.

Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun. Sun exposure increases your risk of getting cataracts.
 
Wear a wide-brimmed hat. Wide-brimmed hats help protect your face, neck and ears from the sun. The best hat to wear in the sun has a brim that's at least 6 inches all around. Baseball caps and similar hats don't protect your ears and neck.

Use sunscreen. Every day, put on a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, even on cloudy days. Clouds don't protect your skin from sun damage. Only sunscreen can do that. Use lots of sunscreen and rub it in well. Put the sunscreen on 30 minutes before you go outside. Put the sunscreen everywhere the sun's rays might touch you, including your forehead and face, your ears, the back of your neck and any bald parts on the top of your head. Some sunscreen products say they won't drip into your eyes. You can try those products on your face if that's a problem for you.
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What else can I do to protect my skin?

Some doctors think it's a good idea to do a monthly skin check. Ask your doctor about this. If your doctor thinks it's a good idea for you, pick a certain day each month, like the date of your birthday or the day you pay bills, to check your skin. A monthly skin check can help you find skin cancer early. The earlier skin cancer is found, the better the chance for a cure.

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