This post will show you the best sun protection tips to prevent sun damage and still look amazing this summer.

Summer is finally here, and if it feels like we’ve gone years without summer, and that’s because we have. Two years, to be exact.

So, we can all agree this summer is long overdue — and I can’t decide what I’m most excited about. Going to the beach? Lunch with friends? Shopping in stores? Sunday brunch? Going to the movies? Or maybe it’s simply being outside in the sun. Cue Phineas and Ferb theme song: “There’s 104 days of summer vacation” and so much to do. 

And while we’re making up for lost time, the last thing we want to do is lose more time later in our lives. While sun protection is essential year-round, it’s never more more so than during the summer.

Thanks to longer days and stronger UV radiation, our skin is more susceptible to the harmful effects of sun rays. While wrinkles may be many people’s top of mind issue, don’t forget the very much so life threatening illnesses that can arise far before signs of aging can become a problem.

Below, I’m sharing some facts about sun exposure, plus our best sun protection tips to have a safe summer while still looking amazing. (Don’t worry, you can still look tan without harming yourself — scroll to the bottom for details.)

Table of Contents

Sun Facts:

• ANY visible tan on your skin that differs from your natural skin color is sun damage; the deeper the color, the worse the damage.
• All skin colors are susceptible to skin cancer, not just fair skin.
• Most skin cancer is caused by sun damage that occurred before the age of 20.
• You can get melanoma on your scalp.
• Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults, and can often be deadly.
• The sun doesn’t just damage your skin: it can cause numerous eye problems, such as cataracts and pteryguim.
• 90% of fine lines, wrinkles, and brown spots on skin are caused by sun damage and could have been prevented.

Scary, right? And those are just a few of the facts. For more information on skin cancer, check out the American Academy of Dermatology and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – both are excellent resources that are worth reading.