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Smart sun moves

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends several things you can do to fight sun damage. None is particularly fun, but neither is a sunburn.

Stay in
Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest.

Cover up
Wear long pants and shirts with sleeves. If the sun can’t get to you, it can’t damage your skin. Also, try to wear darker colors.

Don a cap
Wear a hat with a 4-inch brim to protect your face and neck.

Make it routine
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day and start putting it on your kids at age 6 months.

Go higher
If you’ll be outside for any length of time, use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 — no less than SPF 15.

Re-apply
Even waterproof sunscreens need to be re-applied every two hours for maximum protection in the midday sun.

Look for changes
Growing, bleeding, crusting or otherwise changing spots on skin could indicate a problem.

Get to know your skin
Practice skin self-exams to become familiar with your body’s "topography."

Self-examinations »

Information gathered from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the American Cancer Society (ACS).