How to prevent sunburn: Don’t let the sun turn you into a lobster

You step outside and feel like your shadow is throwing shade at you. That is your cue to check the UV Index. The official sunburn danger scoreboard runs from 1 to 11 plus, with 3 and above warning you to bring out the protectors, aka sunscreen and shade. The EPA explains it all clearly and concisely.

When the UV Index hits 6 to 7, that means high risk, and the sun is basically a supervillain. The EPA says you should apply sunscreen of at least 30 SPF 20 minutes before doing any activity outside and reapply every 2 hours. If you still think shade will save you, think again. Scattered UV rays bounce off sand, water and believe it or not, snow. So, wearing sunscreen with a wide-brim hat and UV glasses to protect you is recommended.

SPF numbers are not magic potions. SPF 15 offers 93% protection from UVB radiation, SPF 30 blocks about 97% and SPF 50 blocks about 98%. Doubling SPF does not double protection, so reapplying matters more than buying super expensive bottles.

But wait, there’s more. UVA and UVB rays cause sneaky wrinkling and are the cancer-causing villains that lurk outside. That is why you need broad-spectrum sunscreen, not just UVB coverage. Stanford Medicine experts say a broad-spectrum sunscreen is essential to reduce cancer risk and skin aging.

Looking for low-effort options? Harvard Health confirms that tightly woven, dark and light fabrics, such as polyester, wool, nylon and canvas are forms of sun protective clothing.

Sun survival tips

1. Check the daily UV Index.

2. At 3 or higher, apply broad spectrum SPF 30 or more 20 minutes before going out.

3. Reapply every two hours or after swimming.

4. Use hats, clothes and glasses.

Follow this guide, and you may keep your skin smooth enough to confuse people into thinking you are 30 when you are actually 40.