5 Myths About Sun Damage

Summertime shine: Our love-hate relationship with the sun isn’t anything new, and its certainly not seasonal. But, since summer is the season of tans, T-shirts and long days outside, we’re revisiting the rules on sun protection. Spoiler alert: these rules can’t be bent.

Sun damage isn’t possible on cloudy, windy or overcast days.

False. The risk of sun damage on a given day is not determined by heat, and windy days may give the impression of a lower UV index, causing people to stay outside longer than recommended. Cloudy days can also have a very high UV index; the sun easily reflects off of cloud cover and may actually magnify in intensity. So, don’t judge your risk level by wind, temperature or cloud cover. Make sure to look up your local daily UV Index and follow recommended exposure times.

If I use SPF60, I’ll get double the amount of sun protection than if I were to use SPF30, and can stay out longer.

False. The amount of UVB rays blocked by sunscreen isn’t correlated directly with its SPF number, the differences are marginal. SPF15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, SPF30 blocks 97% of UVB rays, and SPF50 blocks 98% of UVB rays. So, while a higher SPF is better (it provides more SPF with less product, and helps to ensure you are getting adequate protection) it is not double the protection, and you shouldn’t stay out any longer than the recommended time for that day.

If I start to burn, I’ll go inside. That’s how you can tell if your skin is being damaged.

False. Both burning and tanning are signs of sun damage. Any change in the melanin in your skin, which causes the tan, can increase your risk for sun cancer. Sorry to say, but there is no such thing as a healthy sun tan.

Darker skin tones are not at risk for skin cancer.

False. Naturally darker skin tones do run a lower risk of developing skin cancer than lighter tones, but the risk is still there. Dark skin tones can suffer from overexposure and sun damage. Data suggests that cases of skin cancer in darker-skinned men and women have a higher chance of going undetected for longer, so it’s important to regularly check your skin for any changes and abnormalities.

My face, back and arms are where to check for skin cancer.

False. While skin cancer can appear anywhere on the body, sun-exposed areas are a prime target. Your face, back and arms are a great starting point, but other common areas to check (and to limit exposure to) are the ears, neck, hands and legs. For men and women with darker skin tones, a common place for melanomas are palms of hands, soles, and nail beds.