Take steps to protect your skin

You can protect your skin and minimize sun damage by taking the steps below when you're outdoors. Follow these tips even on cool, cloudy or hazy days. Be extra careful around water, snow, concrete and sand because they reflect the sun's rays. And keep in mind that sunlight is more intense at higher altitudes.

• Cover up. For the most protection from the sun, cover your skin when you're outdoors. Dark clothing with a tight weave offers more protection than light-colored clothing or clothing with a loose weave. Try outdoor gear designed for sun protection. Check the label for its ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). That tells how well a fabric blocks sunlight. The higher the UPF number, the more protection you get. Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella to shade skin that can't be covered, along with wearing sunscreen.
• Use sunscreen often and generously. On uncovered skin, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Apply sunscreen generously. Reapply every two hours, or more often if you're swimming or sweating.
• Avoid being in the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The sun's rays are strongest during these hours, so try to schedule outdoor activities for other times, if possible. If you have to be outside during the middle of the day, try to limit the time you're in the sun. Stay in the shade as much as you can.