Read archived articles written by Palo Alto Medical Foundation doctors.

Sun Safety for the Summer

Although summer can be the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors and get more exercise, it is important to remember to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays. Follow the guidelines listed below to enjoy your time outside while avoiding a bad sunburn.

1. Remember to wear sunscreen. Check with your parents to determine what type of sunscreen you should be wearing.
   
   
2. Apply sunscreen even on cloudy days. Eighty percent of the sun's harmful rays still get to the earth's surface despite a cloud cover.
   
   
3. Reapply sunscreen every two hours. The effectiveness of sunscreen declines rapidly. Don't be fooled by claims of "all day" or "8 hour" sunscreens; in fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently banned such advertising.
   
   
4. Wear a hat and sunglasses. Don't forget that your scalp and eyes need protection too.
   
   
5. Avoid the sun between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. This is when the sun's rays are most intense. If you are outside during these times, find a shady spot to escape the rays.
   
   
6. Wear sun-protective clothing. Special clothes and swimsuits are now available to protect your skin.

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