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While many people look forward to “soaking up the sun” during the spring and summer months, it’s important to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Various types of skin conditions are caused by long-time exposure to sunlight, including wrinkled saggy skin, brown spots and redness, as well as cancerous lesions.

Ways to Protect Your Skin

Shade

• You can reduce the risk of harmful UV rays by staying under an umbrella, tree or shelter when possible.
• But don’t be fooled by shade, you can still get exposed to UV rays as they reflect off water, sand, and concrete. Therefore, additional protection is still recommended.

Clothing

• Long-sleeve shirts and long pants can protect covered skin from over-exposure to the sun. Ultraviolet Protective (UPF) clothing items are most helpful when it comes to blocking UV rays.
• When on the hunt for UPF clothing, a higher UPF rating number means greater skin coverage. Look for UPF50+ as it blocks 98% of the sun’s rays.

Hats

• Hats provide shade for your face, and depending on the size of brim, the back of your neck. Hats that are darker in color and thicker material may offer more protection than others. There are hats with UPF protection too.

Sunscreen

• Applying sunscreen is a must when spending time outdoors. A broad spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher is best to use. It is most effective when combined with other sun-safety approaches.
• Direct sunlight will breakdown sunscreen after two hours, so be sure to reapply every two hours when out in the sun for long periods of time.
• Reapply sunscreen after swimming, even if you are using a waterproof sunblock.

Dr. Kingsley shared best practices for choosing the most beneficial sunscreen with CBS4. To learn what her recommendations are, visit here.