The sun can be more damaging that you may think. Painful sunburn can really ruin your fun in the sun. You can prevent skin damage like this and enjoy fun in the sun all summer long. Here are some tips to protect your skin from sun this summer and enjoy as much time outside as you want.

• One of the best things you can do is cover up. The sun’s rays are most intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Stay indoors during this time, or if you must be outdoors, cover up and wear sunscreen.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Be sure to spread it on thick enough.
• Apply sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before exposure to allow the skin to absorb it. And reapply it every two hours — more often if you’re sweating or getting wet. If you have fair skin, you might even want to begin preparing for sun exposure the night before by putting on a layer of sunscreen before bed.
• Keep in mind that even umbrellas or shade trees provide only moderate protection from ultraviolet light, and they don’t protect you from rays reflected off sand, snow, concrete and many other surfaces. Ultraviolet light isn’t reflected by water, but it can easily penetrate water, so being in the water doesn’t protect you, either. Be careful to protect surfaces, such as the under part of the chin, that are especially vulnerable to reflected light.

These tips can help to make your summer safe from skin damage and keep you cool. Remember to stay hydrated and have fun because Irvine has a lot to offer to your sunny days. Are you making any fun plans in the summer? Tell us about your fun summer plans in the summer.

Source: HowStuffWorks

Photo Credit: Carnaval King 08