Sun Myths & Facts Quiz

Kids are at high risk in the sun because it's easier for them to get sunburned. A baby's skin can burn in less than 10 minutes. Kids also tend to spend a lot of time outside and don't put sunscreen on themselves. Keep babies younger than 6 months out of the sun and protected by hats and clothes. Their thin skin is too young for sunscreen.

Everybody can burn. People of color are often diagnosed with skin cancer at later stages because of a myth that only those with lighter skin can develop it.

Skin cancers can grow anywhere on the body. There is a strong link between sun exposure and the two most common non-melanoma skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. These mostly grow on the face, ears, and hands.

The risk of melanoma is a huge 75% higher in people who started to use tanning beds before age 25. Tanning salons use both UVA and UVB rays -- the same as the sun.

Any kind of tan is damaged skin. That speeds skin aging, as well as raising the risk of cancer.

There's no such thing as a safe tan. If you spend any time in the sun, you expose your skin to damaging UV rays. Tanned skin is damaged skin. It raises your risk for skin cancer and speeds up your skin's aging process.

Look for moisturizers, eye creams, foundations, and lipsticks that have SPF. Powder can help keep them in place. Skip shiny, high-gloss lipsticks, which can attract UV rays to your lips. If you want the wet look, apply a colored lipstick first, and then top with gloss.

UVB rays can’t get through glass, but UVA rays can. That's why you should use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day, even when you’re going to be inside.

While ball caps cover your head, where most skin cancers grow, they leave your cheeks, chin, and other areas exposed. Better: a hat with a brim at least 3 inches wide. It's best if the brim angles downward.

UV rays tend to pass through lighter-colored fabrics more easily. To block the most, wear deep blue and black or bright solids like orange and red. Tight weaves offer more protection than loose ones. If you can see light through the fabric when you hold it up, the sun's damaging rays can hit your skin. Some clothes have UPF (UV protection factor) ratings; the higher the better.

Both can do the job. Look for labels that say "Meets ANSI UV Requirements" or "UV absorption up to 400 nm."  That means the glasses will block 99% of UV rays, compared with about 70% for most cosmetic glasses.

Sunglasses are key, because up to 1 in 10 skin cancers strike the eyelid area. Sun can also raise the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, sunburn of the cornea (keratitis), and cancers of the eye.

Like naproxen, other pain relievers can also make you more sun-sensitive. So can tricyclic antidepressants, sulfonylureas for diabetes, or tetracycline, sulfa drugs, and many other antibiotics. When you get a new prescription, ask your doctor if it can make you more sun-sensitive. And ask about any current drugs before you head on a sunny vacation.

Most skin cancers strike the most exposed parts of the body, such as the face, ears, neck, forearms, and hands. Melanoma is different. It's often seen on the upper back for men and the lower legs and upper back for women. That's why it's important to wear sunscreen all over your body.