The warm weather is here which means people will be flocking to the beaches like moths to a flame. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a little bit of sun; however it is very important to wear sunscreen so that you don’t suffer from those dreadful sunburns.

Even though sunburns can occur at any time of the year, they are most common in the summer because of the Sun being closer to the Earth ? resulting in extreme heat and long sunny days.

So how can you prevent sunburns?

1. The sun is strongest between 10 am and 2 pm so try avoiding being in the sun during those hours.
2. If you have to be in the sun during those hours; wear a hat and appropriate clothing. When it is extremely hot, it’s understandable you probably don’t want to wear a long shirt and pants. Try looking for clothes that are beach and heat friendly.
3. Sunblock.

One of the most important and effective ways to prevent a sunburn is by applying sunblock. There are a lot of myths and facts about sun lotions that can get confusing so let’s try to sort some of those out.

1. The higher the Sun Protector Factor (SPF), the more protective the lotion is.
2. Apply sunblock 30 minutes before exposure to the sun. This gives the lotion a chance to seep into your skin, resulting in better protection.
3. Re-apply the sunblock every couple hours, especially if you are sweating profusely and have gone into the water and the certain brand of sunblock you are using is not water resistant.
4. Try to find a chap stick that has the minimal of SPF 30. Most people don’t think to apply sunscreen to their lips, but it is very possible to burn them.

Try to remember that by using sunblock, not only are you preventing painful sunburns; you are also preventing future skin damage. This damage can including wrinkling of the skin, or even worse ? skin cancer.