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Wear your sunscreen! Protecting yourself from skin cancer as the weather gets warm


LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) -- Let's set the scene.

The sun is out..finally. You're soaking up all the Vitamin D. You're feeling great.

But, now that the weather is warm, it's time to take a refresher course on the dangers of the sun's rays.

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70 and more people are diagnosed with it each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined.

RELATED | Early detection and self examination of skin cancer

Sunscreen can help protect you from the UV rays, but are you wearing it properly?

Let's see if you can answer these questions.

True or false: All sunscreens are created equal.

The answer? False.

"Look for [SPF] 30 or higher, all rays, water-proof, easy on your skin cause if you break out you won't wear it," said Skin Cancer nurse, Christine LaCoy. "Go some place reputable."


True or false: Sunscreen never expires.

That's also false.

"If it's going to sit in a store like a mom or pop store for a year, no one checks expiration dates," LaCoy said.

Yes, there are expiration dates, so look for that when you buy.

True or false: the heat can affect your sunscreen.

This one is true.

"It changes the way it works," LaCoy added. "Now if you are slapping on 100 percent zinc oxide, that might be different, but most people don't do that."

When you go outside, be sure to apply a lot of sunscreen, because LaCoy said one burn that blisters can increase your likelihood of getting skin cancer by 50-percent.

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