Sun Protection: What You Need To Know

(NAPSI)-Ask the experts which days it's most important to wear sun protection and the answer you will hear is: Every single day of the year.

Although it is critical to protect your skin while playing summer sports or when going to the beach, it's also crucial to wear sunscreen during the fall, winter and spring months to help protect against skin cancer.

Just because you don't feel the heat of the sun doesn't mean harmful rays are not doing damage. A daily moisturizing lotion that includes an adequate amount of sunscreen should be applied on cloudy days as well as sunny ones, especially when taking part in winter sports such as skiing, ice skating or mountaineering since snow reflects damaging UV light.

"Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, diagnosed in 1.4 million people annually of all races," says dermatologist Jeanine Downie, M.D. "Skin cancer is also the most preventable and curable form of cancer if it is detected early."

That's why dermatologists say it's so important to protect your skin on a daily basis, regardless of your skin color, and to get a yearly skin check by a dermatologist to prevent skin cancer.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is among the fastest-growing cancers in the U.S. However, 40 percent of people admit that they never use sunscreen, and only 11 percent use an SPF of 15 or higher daily. For maximum protection, doctors now recommend products with SPF 30 or higher and one that offers broad-spectrum and photostable UV protection.

Traditional sunscreens break down once they are exposed to UV rays, but those with a photostabilizing technology don't break down as quickly.

Sunscreen lotions such as Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion SPF 55 with a photostabilizing technology can protect the skin from the sun's harmful rays throughout the seasons.

For more information, visit skincancer.org or aveeno.com.

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