Spending time outdoors and working on a beautiful tan is a great way to look and feel great. At the same time, you need to take steps to make sure you avoid sunburn. After all, getting a tan is fun and healthy, but getting a sunburn is painful and can lead to skin cancer down the road. Therefore, it is important for you to take steps in order to prevent a sunburn from occurring.



There are many things you can do to help prevent a sunburn. First, make sure you wear a sunscreen that can block UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreens capable of blocking out both types of rays are called broad-spectrum sunscreens, so be certain to look for that on the label. It is also a good idea to choose a sunscreen that is hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic. This way, you don't have to worry about getting a rash from the sunscreen and your pores won't get clogged and lead to acne.

When you put on the sunscreen, remember to put it on thickly. If you put on too thin of an amount, you won't actually get the level of protection you think you are getting. Remember, the higher the SPF, the more protection your skin receives. The SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, is the number found on the bottle of sunscreen.

It is also important for you to make sure to reapply the sunscreen once every two to three hours. Even if you have long lasting sunscreen or sunscreen that is sweatproof or waterproof, it will still need to be reapplies throughout the day. In addition, the more active you are, the more frequently you will need to reapply the lotion.

In order to stay safe while outdoors, you should also avoid sunbathing between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm because you are more likely to get sunburned during this time rather than getting a tan. In fact, if you plan to go out during this time, you should wear a hat as well as sunglasses that block out UV rays. This way, you can keep your eyes protected as well as your skin. If you will be spending a great deal of time outdoors, you might also want to consider wearing sun protective clothing.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with spending time in the sun and getting a tan. At the same time, you can cause long term damage to your skin if you allow it to get burned. By being responsible and preventing a sunburn from developing, however, you can enjoy a great tan while keeping your skin healthy!