Summer has arrived. The days are longer, and the sun's light is much stronger. Although all of us enjoy our beautiful sunny weather, it is very important, especially at this time of year, to take appropriate precautions and protect the skin from the damaging effects of the sun. Please remember that the single most important factor in preventing skin cancer is limiting your exposure to the sun. Here are some tips you can use to protect your skin this summer and all year long.

• Summer has arrived. The days are longer, and the sun's light is much stronger. Although all of us enjoy our beautiful sunny weather, it is very important, especially at this time of year, to take appropriate precautions and protect the skin from the damaging effects of the sun. Please remember that the single most important factor in preventing skin cancer is limiting your exposure to the sun. Here are some tips you can use to protect your skin this summer and all year long.
• Always use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15, and remember to reapply it every two hours or after working, swimming, playing, or exercising outdoors. Use a sun block with a broad-spectrum formulation, which filters out long and short UVA and UVB light. Also remember to apply sunscreen to your ears and lip balm with sun block to your lips.
• Limit your exposure to the midday sun, as the sun's rays are strongest between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
• Seek shade. Shade is a good source of protection. Watch your shadow. If you see a sharply defined shadow, then seek shade.
• Wear a wide brim hat. This provides good sun protection to your eyes, ears, face, and the back of your neck. A baseball cap, while it may be attractive, will not protect your face as well as a wide brim hat.
• Cover up. Wearing tightly woven, loose fitting, full-length clothing is a good way to protect your skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays. Protective clothing includes long pants, long skirts, and long sleeved shirts.
• Wear sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet light. This will protect against cataracts and other eye damage.
• Watch the UV index. The UV index can be found daily in the Los Angeles Times weather section. The index gives an indication of how strong the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays will be on that day.
• Avoid sun lamps and tanning parlors. In general, it is a good idea to avoid artificial sources of ultraviolet (UV) light.