Dear Expert,

My mom always tells me to wear sunscreen but I never put it on because I have darker skin and really don’t burn. Do I still need to worry about the sun even though I don’t burn?

Love, Burning Question

Dear Burning Question,

Great question. The answer is yes, you need to protect your skin even if you don’t burn easily. The sun will damage your skin even if you don’t burn. This damage can lead to skin cancer. For the best protection make sure your sunscreen is actually sunscreen. A lot of young girls use tanning oils or creams. These oils and creams won’t protect your skin from sun damage. Look for a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply the sunscreen about 30 minutes before you head outside and make sure you use a generous amount. You should use about one ounce per application. So read the label and figure out how many ounces are in the bottle. If the bottle contains two ounces, you’ll want to use half the bottle for one application. Re-apply every two hours.

Also keep in mind that sunscreen is only one way of protecting your skin. Wear a hat when you go outside to protect your face. Try to stay out of the sun during the hottest afternoon hours. Finally, when you are outside, cover your skin with tightly woven clothing.

~Veronica