Home & News
Health A-Z
- Tools & Video
- First Aid
- Games
- Mobile Apps
- Slideshows
- Symptom Checker
- Vaccine Tracker
- Tests & Tools
- Videos
- Community
- Experts & Blogs
- WebMD Community
Drugs & Medications Center
Healthy Living
Healthy Eating & Diet
Parenting & Pregnancy
Teen Health
- Teen Girls
- Teen Boys
- WebMD FIT Teen
- Food
- Move
- Recharge
- Mood
Pet Health
- Healthy Dogs
- Healthy Cats

Enter Search Keywords:

Other search tools:Symptoms|Doctors|Medical Dictionary

Find us on:

WebMD Home

Healthy Beauty

Email a Friend

Print Article

Healthy Beauty

Health Quiz

Dangerous UV Rays: Are You Fully Protected?

Ultraviolet rays can cause lasting harm to your skin and eyes.

Sunscreen and sunglasses are most important in summer, when ultraviolet (UV) rays are intense.

True

False
The darker your skin, the less you have to worry about UV rays.

True

False
For UV protection, even waterproof sunscreen must be reapplied after swimming.

True

False
Wearing a hat is the best UV protection for your eyes.

True

False
Sunglasses are recommended for adults and teens, not children under 12.

True

False
Damage from UV rays, like sunburn, heals after a couple of weeks.

True

False
Snow reflects over 4 times as many UV rays as sand and water.

True

False
All sunglasses protect against both UVA and UVB rays.

True

False

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on September 05, 2008

Sources: Sources

SOURCES:

American Academy of Dermatology: “The Sun and Your Skin.”

Environmental Protection Agency: “UV Radiation,” “Sunscreen: The Burning Facts,” “Prevent Eye Damage.”

KidsHealth: “Facts About Sun Exposure.”

American Journal of Epidemiology: “Model of Risk of Cortical Cataract in the US Population with Exposure to Increased Ultraviolet Radiation due to Stratospheric Ozone Depletion.”

American Melanoma Foundation: “Facts About Sunscreen.”

British Columbia Health Guide: “'Sun-Smart’ Your Kids.”

American Optometric Association: “Summer’s Almost Here! Help Protect Your Eyes from Harmful UV Rays.”

Prevent Blindness America: “What is the best defense against eye damage from UV Rays?”

Dr. Greene.com: “Sunglasses and Kids.”

CDC: “Sunscreen: How to Select, Apply, and Use It Correctly.”

This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information:

THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the WebMD Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.