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Ultraviolet rays - Ultraviolet rays are the most damaging to the skin. There are two types of ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun that reach your skin: ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB).

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UVA - UVA rays account for up to 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the surface of the Earth. These rays penetrate more deeply into the skin and are the primary cause of tanning and skin aging.

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UVB - Although UVB rays are not as skin-penetrating as UVA rays, they are still very powerful. UVB light causes sunburn and plays a role in skin cancer.

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Not all sunscreens protect from the sun - With that said, the importance of using sunscreen is major, but not all sunscreens protect you from the sun. Some, in fact, protect you only from the UVB rays, but not from the UVA.

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How much sunscreen do you need? - A little dab of sunscreen won't do the job. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), most people don't know how much sunscreen they should use, and use only 25-50% of what they really need.

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How much sunscreen do you need? -

The guideline for lotions is that enough sunscreen to fill a shot glass is sufficient to cover your body. For spray, it requires at least six seconds of spraying.

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Broad spectrum - It is best to choose a broad spectrum sunscreen because it protects your skin from the entire UV spectrum—which means both UVB and UVA rays.

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Forgotten skin - We tend to forget the ears, lips, feet, hands, and the hairline when it comes to applying sunscreen. For the lips, it is advised not to put a regular sunscreen on, but a lip balm with SPF.

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Scalp sunscreen - The hairline is the last place you'll probably think of applying sunscreen. If you're not wearing a hat and you part your hair, you're exposing this sensitive area directly to UV rays. It's best to use a scalp sunscreen product.

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Tattoos - Contrary to what some people may think, tattoos do not protect your skin from UV damage. UV rays actually break down the chemical structure of the pigments and degrade them, causing the tattoo to fade and making you even more sun-sensitive.

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Scars -

Scars can't be forgotten and must be protected with sunscreen that's at least SPF 35. Not protecting scars increases the risk of hyper-pigmentation and skin cancer, due to the fact that the skin is already damaged.

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Darker complexions - Darker skin tones have some sun protection due to melanin, but contrary to popular belief, dark complexions also need to use sunscreen with at least a SPF 15 to prevent skin cancer.

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Sunscreens do expire - Is your sunscreen still fresh or has it gone bad without you noticing? Sunscreen should never be used past its expiration date because it becomes less effective and won't protect you anymore.

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Sunscreens do expire - In general, three years is the amount of time it takes for a sunscreen to expire. But if you apply it correctly and daily, there's no reason for you to keep the same bottle that long!

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Vitamin D deficiency - Sunscreen lowers Vitamin D levels because it blocks the UVB light. But the risk of cancer is too high to just skip sunscreen.

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How often? - Sweating and swimming decrease SPF. Therefore sunscreen should be applied at least every two hours.

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Fully protected? - No sunscreen will fully protect your skin, not even SPF 100. It's still important to reapply.

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Level of protection - SPF 100 blocks 99% of UV radiation, while SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays, and SPF 30 "only" blocks 97% of UVB rays.

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Allergies - Does your skin itch and turn red after you use sunscreen? Then you're probably allergic to it. Sunscreen allergies are rare, but they do affect a small percentage of people.

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On cloudy days - Even on the days when the sun is completely hidden behind clouds, you still need to protect your skin. Clouds only block 20% of UV rays, so your skin is still soaking up 80% of them.

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Sun protection indoors - Protecting your skin is not a rule you should only follow while outside. Windows can also let through some harmful UV rays and that can damage your skin.

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Before sun exposure - Most people slather on sunscreen when they get to the beach. The Skin Cancer Foundation advises that you apply it 30 minutes before sun exposure, because it takes that long for the ingredients to start protecting your skin.

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Is makeup enough to protect your face? - Makeup might indeed provide a little sun protection, but not enough to protect you like sunscreen would. You definitely shouldn't use it as your only layer of protection.

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Not only during summer - Applying sunscreen is not a rule you should only follow during the summer months, but during winter too! Especially if you're going to be spending time near surfaces that reflect light, such as snow or ice.

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Umbrella - Using an umbrella doesn't mean you don't need sunscreen! Shade alone is not enough to protect you from the sun.

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Spray vs lotion -

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises using a lotion sunscreen instead of a spray, as it might be hard to evaluate if you've applied enough on the skin when using a spray bottle.

See also: Fun, easy ways to help the bees this summer

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