9 Common Mistakes When You Go Outside

Usual dislike-love relationship with sunscreen. It’s a pain, especially on a humid summer day. But daily SPF protection is the best way to avoid sunburns and DNA damage that can cause aging and skin cancer (besides hibernating indoors or walking the streets with a parasol).

But it’s hard to get perfect sun protection. You need to know more than just “apply SPF 30 every day” to keep your skin safe when you’re outside.

Here are nine common mistakes

1. You feel invincible in SPF 50+.

SPF is a confusing concept. The SPF of a sunscreen measures how long your skin is protected from UVB rays compared to going outside without protection.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, if unprotected skin starts burning in 20 minutes, using SPF 15 should take 15 times longer. That’s five hours of coverage. But that’s a flawed formula because sunscreen shouldn’t work for more than two hours without reapplication. Chemical sunscreens, unlike physical sunscreens, break down in the sun and need to be reapplied every two hours, says Arielle Nagler, M.D., a dermatologist at NYU Langone Medical Center.

Another major SPF flaw? It only accounts for UVB exposure, which causes sunburn and skin cancer. It excludes UVA, which is linked to photoaging (though proof that it can cause skin cancer on its own has grown in recent years).

Another way to look at it: SPF 15 blocks 93 percent of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97 percent, and SPF 50 blocks 98 percent. More than SPF 50 doesn’t provide much extra protection and only gives people a false sense of security. Please use an SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVB and UVA rays.

2. You think a T-shirt covers enough.

A thin shirt to cover your reddening shoulders won’t do. The average T-shirt and shorts have an SPF of 4, Nagler says. “You think you’re protected, but clothing can definitely expose you to the sun.” It’s best to wear a coverup with UPF (the clothing equivalent of SPF) when going outside. “It beats sunscreen,” Nagler says. “No need to reapply—just put it on and go for the day.”

3. You don’t use enough sunscreen.

Every time you apply and reapply, use 2 ounces to cover your entire body. SPF 15 in a shot glass “A day at the beach with proper sunscreen application would use an entire bottle,” Nagler says. Most people don’t. The average person does not bring a full bottle of sunscreen. But it’s an investment worth making to get adequate coverage.

4. The wrong reasons for using sunscreen.

According to a new JAMA Dermatology study, people rate their favorite sunscreens on Amazon based on how they feel on their skin. The American Academy of Dermatology’s three important criteria (SPF 30 or higher, broad spectrum, and water-and sweat-resistant) came in second.

5. A base tan keeps you safe.

A tan provides some natural protection, but not enough to avoid sunscreen or assume you won’t get skin cancer. The CDC says it’s equivalent to SPF 3 or less. “It has no protective effect,” Nagler says.

6. You don’t use lip balm.

He claims people overlook the lips. As she ages, she notices more people with sun damage on their lips, skin cancers and pre-cancers. Use a lip balm with SPF 30 and reapply throughout the day to avoid photoaging and skin cancer.

7. You put on sunscreen after going outside.

The chemicals in sunscreen don’t start working immediately, so apply 15 minutes before sun exposure. (Sunscreens do.) Applying before dressing ensures that you cover any exposed skin that may occur if your clothes shift.

8. You use spray sunscreen.

Yes, we know, they’re much easier to use than lotions. However, the spray sunscreen’s nature makes application difficult. It’s harder to see where you’re applying it, so you can easily miss areas. Like this group of sunbathers’ epic spray fail. Nagler also points out that many people choose to spray outdoors, omitting the fact that the wind can deflect the product. Liquids and sticks provide better coverage. One exception? If you don’t like to use traditional sunscreen, spray beats nothing.

9. You don’t use sunscreen in the rain.

Another Common Mistakes is You don’t use sunscreen in the rain. Even on cloudy days, UV radiation reaches us, Nagler says. Even if you can’t feel or see the sun, UV rays exist. A cloudy, rainy day doesn’t remind you to apply sunscreen, so you’re more likely to go out without it and get burned. Remember that the sun can exacerbate exposure if it is reflecting off snow or water.