Tips to be smart about sun protection

The best choice for protection against sun is to avoid sun when it's too intense. Go outside only in the morning and evening. If you still have to go out during daytime, wear a cap or a hat, long sleeve shirts, and preferably glasses to protect your skin and eyes.

Sunscreen is a useful product for summers however choosing the right one is very important. Use a sunscreen that contains compounds like zinc, titanium dioxide, avobenzone, mexoryl SX. All these compounds will stay on without being absorbed into the skin.

SPF higher than 50+ can give you a false sense of protection. You shouldn't stay longer in the sun even with higher SPF with only one application. Use SPF less than 50+ and make sure that you reapply it regularly throughout the day.

Water and sweat decrease the longevity of your sunscreen while you are swimming or exercising in the sun. Using water resistant sunscreens will increase the amount of protection when you are in the water or sweating.

Recent studies suggest that when Vitamin A is placed on the skin, it may increase your risk for tumors and lesions. Also avoid sunscreens with Oxybenzone, a synthetic form of estrogen that can get absorbed right into your skin and upset your normal hormone balance.

Since UVA can make it through cloud cover and burn your skin, be sure to utilize sun protection and cover up even on cloudy days.

Sunscreen is not recommended for use on infants. Use shade and clothing as primary defense for infants less than 6 months old as their skin is not mature enough to protect them from UV damage.

Using sunscreen in the form of sprays and powders forms small droplets in the air that you can breathe in while applying. Such intake may not be good for your health.

Instead of exposing yourself to sun, create shady spots to play. Encourage the kids to seek out the shady spots during peak hours. Image Courtesy : Getty Images

Keep examine your own skin at a regular period of time for any non-healing sore or bump of any color, a changing mole or a new mole that is irregular in shape or color. Image Courtesy : Getty Images