Why sunscreen is important for staying safe in the sun

Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)

During this time of year, everyone looks forward to having fun in the sun. Too much sun can be dangerous, though. This is especially true for children because they usually spend more time outdoors and their skin burns more easily.

Damage from the sun can lead to skin cancer. This happens when there is damage to the skin cells, and the biggest cause is the ultraviolet (UV) light found in sunlight. Skin cancer can develop on the head, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms, hands and legs.

One way to protect our skin is to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30, even on cloudy days (see graphic).

Apply sunscreen generously. You should also reapply it every two hours – or more often if you are swimming or sweating. Put sunscreen on all exposed skin, including your lips, the tips of your ears, and the backs of your hands and neck.

Sunscreen is good to use for three years after you buy it. Some sunscreens have an expiration date printed on the packaging. This is the day the sunscreen stops working, and you should throw it away after this date.

You can also protect your skin by staying indoors when the sun is strongest, wearing sunglasses that block UV rays, and wearing a broadbrimmed hat and other protective clothing.