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Five Methods:Choosing SunscreenApplying SunscreenCovering Up with ClothingStaying HydratedStaying Out of the Sun

Excessive sun exposure can cause sunburn, skin damage, skin cancer (the most common form of cancer), cataracts, uneven pigmentation of skin and heat stroke. Take the right precautions to avoid these hazards and enjoy the sun safely.


Method 1 of 5: Choosing Sunscreen

  1. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 1.jpg
    Do your own research into sunscreen. Growing concern about certain additives used in sunscreens such as oxybenzone and vitamin A, and the effectiveness of some sunscreens has intensified in recent years. It is recommended that you do some online research to satisfy your own concerns before purchasing a sunscreen, rather than simply purchasing the first sunscreen you find or one that "smells good". Knowing what is in your sunscreen and how it may affect your health and whether or not it's doing the job it claims to do is key to keeping safe.
  2. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 2.jpg
    Select an appropriate sunscreen. Check the SPF level of your sunscreen. The SPF, or "sun protection factor" number, contrary to popular belief, does not signify how strong the SPF is. It tells you how long it will keep you protected––theoretically. For example, it is calculated by how many minutes it would normally take for your skin to burn multiplied by the number that tells you how long it should last. If you burn easily though, you should reapply often, say every few hours, or more often. So, if you burn in 10 minutes of sun exposure without any protection, SPF 30 will keep you protected for 300 minutes (in theory!). Moreover, do not fall for a false sense of security that wearing sunscreen (no matter how high its SPF) allows you to stay outdoors without taking other precautions, such as wearing adequate clothing, keeping to the shade and staying out of the sun during the hottest time of the day. Sunscreen is only one factor in your overall approach to protecting yourself in the sun.
    • Keep in mind that SPF is not cumulative. Applying one SPF 15 sunscreen and another SPF 20 sunscreen may give you slightly better coverage, but it does not add up to SPF 35.
    • 30+ is adequate for beach and pool use.[1] It is not recommended to use higher SPF formulas because they give a false sense of security in the sun and a higher dose of chemicals on your skin.
    • The word "sunblock" is a misnomer. Sunscreen slows the effects of the sun on skin by absorbing, reflecting, and scattering UV rays, but it doesn't “block” (or stop) them.
  3. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 3.jpg
    Look for both UVA and UVB coverage. This means that the sunscreen will block both kinds of damaging ultraviolet light. Do your research into the brand though; a number of US brands, for example, do not have adequate UVA coverage when compared to European brands.[1]
  4. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 4.jpg
    Be careful about what is in your sunscreen. Some chemicals are allergens, potential hormone disruptors or just plain unnecessary. Here are some key ones to watch for:
    • Look for a PABA-free sunscreen. Para-aminobenzoic acid, or PABA, was used in sunscreens for a long time, but it can stain clothing and cause an allergic reaction in some people.
    • Avoid sunscreens containing vitamin A (retinyl palmitate). The FDA has warned that this may make your skin photocarcinogenic, namely, skin covered in it is at greater risk of turning cancerous when exposed to sunlight.[1]
    • Avoid sunscreens with added insect repellent. Choose a sunscreen because it protects you from the sun; choose a different product for insect repelling.
  5. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 5.jpg
    Choose a water-resistant sunscreen, if you're going to be swimming or sweating a lot. No sunscreen is truly waterproof, so you should reapply the sunscreen frequently, according to package instructions.
  6. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 6.jpg
    Choose a sunscreen format that suits you. If you dislike wearing sunscreen so much that you don't wear it, it won't do you any good. Wearing sunscreen need not be unpleasant, so try different sunscreen brands and styles to find the one(s) that are best suited for you. There is a wide variety of sunscreen formats available and it can be a challenge to know what works best. Some of this will be trial and error; however, it is noted that experts consider the cream format to be the most useful.[2] Some things to bear in mind include:
    • Some daily sunscreens aren't as gooey or smelly as some of the heavy-duty outdoor sport formulations.
    • Some sunscreens come in spray-on, roll-on, powder and stick formats. You may wish to avoid sunscreens that are sprayed on or come in a powder form, to avoid the risk of inhalation of the chemical contents.
    • Some sunscreens come with built-in insect repellent. As stated earlier, it's recommended to avoid these.
    • Some sunscreens even temporarily turn your skin a different color!
    • Smell is no indicator of effectiveness or safety of the sunscreen.
    • For those who wear moisturizer, many daily moisturizers contain sunscreen protection. However, this is minimal protection and should not be relied on if you plan on spending a lot of time outdoors.
  7. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 7.jpg
    Be especially careful with sunscreens chosen for children and people with sensitive skins. Zinc and titanium sunscreens are considered safest and least likely to cause an allergic reaction in children and people with sensitive skin.[1]
    • In general, sunscreen is unsuitable for babies under 6 months of age. Read the label for more advice.
    • Spot test any sunscreen on children. Children's skin is more sensitive and liable to react to sunscreen. You also have the right to use your own sunscreen rather than sunscreen provided by a daycare center or school.

Method 2 of 5: Applying Sunscreen

  1. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 8.jpg
    Apply the sunscreen generously. If you're using a cream, the amount of sunscreen you should use is about the size of a regular golf-ball, or 1 ounce.
    • Use more than you think you need. Most people do not use enough sunscreen, stopping at somewhere between one-fourth and one-half the quantity applied to test sunscreens.
  2. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 9.jpg
    Start ahead of time. Ideally, begin applying sunscreen at least a half hour before you go out. It takes approximately 20 minutes for sunscreen to become effective after it has been applied.
  3. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 10.jpg
    Be thorough. Put the sunscreen on the most vulnerable areas of your body––the entire face and forehead, especially the nose and tips of ears, back of the neck, backs of knees, and arms. Make sure to cover all skin that will be exposed. Don't forget the tops of feet, if you're wearing sandals - sunburned feet can be very sore!
    • Don't just grease it on. Put a little on and rub it in. Then do it again and again, until you have a deep, penetrating layer of sunscreen. Do it right and you won't notice it at all and it will truly protect.
    • Have a friend help with hard-to-reach spots like backs and shoulders.
  4. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 11.jpg
    Keep your sunscreen relatively fresh. Expired sunscreen may not be as effective as recently-purchased sunscreen, but in general, any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen. If there's no expiration date, try it and see if it still works, or replace anything older than about three years.

Method 3 of 5: Covering Up with Clothing

  1. 1
    Cover up. Light layers of clothing work best, in light colors which reflect heat, rather than dark ones, which absorb it. Try a shell or tank top, and then wear a light camp shirt open over that. Natural fibers like cotton are coolest.
    • Wear light-colored, loose fitting clothing. It will keep you cooler and help prevent sunburn by reflecting the sunlight. Be aware, though, that clothing may not block sunlight completely. In fact, an ordinary t-shirt may only be the equivalent of SPF 5. Look for clothing designed to block sun, even up to SPF 50, if you spend a lot of time outdoors.
    • A lot of clothing, especially that from outdoor activity stores, will carry a label indicating the UV protection level of the clothing. Use this as a guide in choosing your layers of clothing.
  2. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 13.jpg
    Wear the right hat. Choose a hat with at least a 3-inch (8 cm) brim all around. A hat will also help to keep you cool.
    • Baseball caps leave the ears and neck exposed, so they're not the best choice for sun protection.
    • A hat will also help to protect your eyes from glare.
  3. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 14.jpg
    Wear sunglasses. Choose sunglasses that block UV light and wrap around to block light from the side, too. If you're not sure whether your old sunglasses adequately block UV, ask an optometrist to have them checked. Long term exposure to UV light can lead to cataracts. Wear sunglasses in conjunction with a hat.

Method 4 of 5: Staying Hydrated

  1. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 15.jpg
    Stay hydrated. Water is the best choice for keeping hydrated on warm and hot days (and cold days too!). If you're going to be exercising heavily, a sports drink can help to replace electrolytes.
    • Drink in proportion to how much you perspire, but remember that too much too quickly can harm you.
    • It's best to take frequent, moderate portions.
    • Be aware that too much sugar, as can be found in soda, can undermine the benefits of the liquid. Alcohol can dehydrate you outright.

Method 5 of 5: Staying Out of the Sun

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    Stay out of the sun. This is especially important between 10 AM and 4 PM; UV is at its highest around the middle of the day, when the sun is directly overhead.
    • Make the most of shade. Finding a spot in the shade,
    • Create your own shade. As well as using a hat, carrying an umbrella or parasol and making use of it to keep off the sun is a very good way of keeping you safe.
  2. 2
    Schedule outdoor activities to avoid the hours when the sun is at its strongest. Doing this can help to minimize exposure. Where possible, rearrange your day's schedule to spend time outdoors when the sun is lower in the sky––early mornings and late afternoons.
    • Keep cool. If you have heavy physical activity to perform outside, try to do it in the morning or evening, not the heat of midday.
    • Choose a shady spot to sit.
    • Sip a cool drink.
    • Take a swim.
    • When walking babies and children outdoors, choose the coolest parts of the day. Use a shade canopy over a baby's stroller and ensure that children are adequately covered with clothing, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen when out in the heat of the day.
  3. Stay Safe in the Sun Step 18.jpg
    Limit your total time in the sun. Roll up car windows and run the air conditioning rather than dangling your arm out the window. Glass blocks UV light reasonably well.

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  • Use the 5-S mnemonic to remember sun safety:
    1. Slop on some sunscreen.
    2. Slurp up some water.
    3. Slip on a shirt.
    4. Slap on a sun hat.
    5. Step into the shade.


  • Sunscreen is not a complete solution by itself, nor a license to spend unlimited time outdoors.
  • Sunscreen can highly irritate your eyes. Do not apply sunscreen too closely to your eyes. If contact occurs, immediately wash the sunscreen out of your eyes thoroughly with water.
  • When skiing or snowboarding, it is common to get a sunburn on your face. If you are planning to have some fun on the mountains, in any season, put on your sunscreen!
  • If you experience watering eyes, reddening skin and other skin or body reactions when applying sunscreen, you may be suffering from an allergic reaction. Switch to a more sensitive sunscreen or talk to your doctor.
  • It's possible to get sunburned on a cloudy day, and it's possible that the clouds will clear up during the day. Take and use sun protection even if it's cool and cloudy when you leave.
  • It is possible to get burned through clothing. Clothing typically has between a 3-10 SPF. Wet clothing has even less. To be safe, apply sunscreen underneath clothing. However reapplying under clothing or under bathing suits can be cumbersome; an easier alternative might be washing clothes with a protective product, such as Rit Sun Guard, which can provide an UPF (Ultra-Violet Protection) of 30 to clothes and lasts for 20 washes.
  • If possible, you should purchase a sunscreen that is paraben-free. Used as a preservative for products with a long shelf life, parabens have been linked to breast cancer and may cause skin allergies or rosacea in susceptible people.[3] There is also some evidence of skin aging and DNA damage from parabens on skin exposed to the sun.[4] However, the cosmetics industry considers parabens to be a safe addition and more studies remain to be done.

Things You'll Need

  • Appropriate sunscreen (preferably SPF 30+)
  • Clothing
  • Shade
  • Hydration methods (carry a water bottle with you)
  • Sunglasses
  • Umbrella for sun protection

Sources and Citations

Article Info

Featured Article

Categories: Featured Articles | Stings Bites and Burns | Sun and Sunless Tanning

Recent edits by: Hang Nguyen, Wingrider, Hailey Girges

In other languages:

Español: Cómo mantenerse seguro bajo el sol, Português: Como Se Proteger Contra o Sol, Italiano: Come Esporsi al Sole in Sicurezza

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