• Generously apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and reapply every hour if skin gets wet and every two hours if dry.
• Seek shade as much as possible and wear a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
• Wear protective clothing, coverups, and SPF fabric. Rash guards with SPF 50 are better than sunscreen for swimming and are great to pull on over a swimsuit.
• Zinc-based sunscreen is preferable as it is the most inert substance and has the fewest extra chemicals.
• Creams are commonly more effective than sprays since the product can blow away in the wind. When using a spray, be sure not to miss any spots and apply liberally.
• Sun exposure should be avoided between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. as those are the hours of the day with the strongest rays.
• SPF 30 or above is ideal. SPF numbers higher than 30 do offer more protection, but the amount of protection does not increase significantly.
• Bodily areas most prone to overexposure are the top of the head, nose, tops of ears and feet, shoulders, and chest because these get strong overhead rays directly from the sun.
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