A national survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology finds that a good number of people don't know enough about being safe in the sun to be able to protect themselves from the dangers of skin damage.
Even with all the warnings, many people could not answer basic true/false statements on skin cancer as part of the survey.
The good news is that the majority of those polled were worried about skin cancer, and were aware of the need for good sun protection.
Of course what we say, and what we do are often two different things.
The concern for doctors and specialists is that while skin cancer is treatable if detected early, if the disease has progressed too far, there is not much hope to be offered.
Another bright spot in the survey of adults in 26 cities across the U.
S.
is that 63% of respondents knew about the dangers of tanning indoors, but confusion remains about sunscreens.
Only one in five people understood that wearing a sunscreen with SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 is not double the protection of an SPF 15 product.
You still need to apply enough (about the size of a full shot glass) of a broad spectrum, water resistant product a half hour before you go out.
You then need to reapply every two hours while out, or after swimming or sweating in order to get the full protective benefit.
When choosing your sunscreen, look for a product that offers both UVA and UVB protection, and check those expiration dates before you buy - sunscreen is usually good for no longer than three years, though its shelf life it cut shorter if the product has been exposed to high temperatures.
Mineral type sunscreens (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) are considered by some to be better than the chemical ones, lotions and creams are far more effective than the spray variety.
When it comes to the ultraviolet rays of the sun, only about a third of the 7,000 people surveyed knew that both UVA and UVB rays are not safe for your skin.
Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays are the ones mostly responsible for early aging, wrinkles, and tanning; ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are known as the "burning" ones that bring sunburn.
Any UV exposure, whether from the sun or a tanning bed is unsafe.
This is the number one avoidable risk for skin cancers.
About half of survey respondents thought that getting a base tan was a healthy way to protect the skin from damage.
Dermatologists insist that a base tan is still evidence of harm to the skin, and it will not protect you from future sunburn.
The trouble is, despite what common sense tells us, images of tanned and toned celebrities are everywhere and a tan is still considered fashionable...
a healthy glow.
Even though many of these looks come from cosmetics, spray tanners or Photoshop, the image that tanned skin is attractive is still out there.
Until that changes, it will be tough to get people to heed the warnings.
The Environmental Working Group has released its annual report on sunscreens and being safe in the sun, and recommends that you not rely on any product as a single defense against skin damage.
The only real protection you have from getting burned is to use sunscreen properly, but also to seek shade, wear protective clothing (and a hat) and avoid exposure during peak hours of the day.