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Sun protection boot camp

From what SPF you should use to how to check yourself for odd skin growths, consider this your basic training in how to protect your body’s last line of defense from the sun.

• What to use: Dermatologists recommend using sunscreen with an sun protection factor of at least 15 during any outdoor activity. Children and those who burn easily should use 30 SPF or higher. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Protect your lips with lip balm with an SPF of at least 15.

• How SPF works: Sun protection factor is based on the time skin normally would take to burn without a sunscreen. If your skin burns in 20 minutes, a sunscreen with an SPF of 10 will protect your skin for 200 minutes, or 10 times as long. The higher the number, the longer the protection lasts.

• When to use it: Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors; reapply sunscreen (including waterproof type) every two hours, especially if you’re swimming or sweating.

• Why starting early matters: Protecting skin during the first 18 years of life can reduce the risk of some skin cancer by up to 78 percent. Use sunscreen on children beginning at 6 months; keep babies younger than 6 months out of the sun when possible.

• How to check yourself: Examine yourself monthly in front of a full-length mirror to detect any odd-looking mole or new skin growth, using the “A-B-C-D system” — checking asymmetry, border irregularity, color and diameter. Regularly schedule full-body exams by a health care professional.

Sources: American Cancer Society, American Academy of Dermatology, http://www.melanoma.com.