by Paisley Parmer

Created on: March 16, 2009

It has become common knowledge to most now that if you are going to be out in the sun you should put on sunscreen to help prevent skin cancer, skin spots or wrinkles. Knowing exactly when and how often you should be applying sunscreen seems to be a bit more confusing though. By following a few a basic guidelines you can take the guesswork out applying sunscreen and keep yourself protected at all times.

~Twenty Minutes or Longer~

If you are going to be outside for twenty minutes or longer during the day with sun exposure should apply sunscreen. Taking care not to dismiss the damage the sun's rays can still cause, you should still apply sunscreen even if it is wintertime or overcast outside.

~Every Time You Go Outside~

If you fall into any of the following categories you should put sunscreen on every time go outside no matter how long you may be out or what the weather is like outside.

* Children 6 months and older, but never for babies under 6 months.

* Those with pale white skin or those who are easily susceptible to sun burns.

* If you or a family member has ever had skin cancer before.

* Some illnesses affect the way your body reacts to sunlight, you should check with your healthcare provider.

* Some medications can affect the way your body reacts to sunlight and can have complications when used along with sunscreen, you should check with your healthcare provider.

~First Application~

The first time you put sunscreen on for the day should be 15 to 20 minutes before you plan to go outside.

~When to Reapply~

How often you should reapply sunscreen can vary greatly between brands and types of sunscreen, the time could range anywhere between 2 hours and 8 hours. You should always follow the directions on your sunscreen and reapply as often as it tells you too. You should reapply more often if have perspired a great deal.

~Waterproof or Water-resistant~

Even though a sunscreen is either waterproof or water-resistant, you will have to apply it more often after exposure to water. When using a waterproof sunscreen you should reapply after 80 minutes of water exposure. When using a water-resistant sunscreen you will need to reapply after only 40 minutes of water exposure. Remember to allow 15 to 20 minutes after application before reentering the water.

So when in doubt about when you should be applying your sunscreen just keep in mind

20 Put it on if you are going to be in the sun longer than twenty minutes

20 Put in on twenty minutes before you go outdoors

Bottle always check the bottle to be sure when to reapply

40 Reapply after forty minutes of water exposure if water-resistant

Or

80 Reapply after eighty minutes of water exposure if water proof

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