10 Sunscreen "Oops" Moments

Have you ever wondered, “Do I really need sunscreen now?” The short answer is yes! When in doubt, it is better to apply. Sunscreen can help reduce your risk of developing melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.  Healthy Women Magazine shares 10 tricky situations where people think they do not have to apply sunscreen when they really should.
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I'm fine if I sit under the umbrella or in the shade - Using an umbrella or sitting in the shade doesn’t totally protect you because sunlight can bounce of other surfaces around you, like the sand on the beach, and still burn even if you are sitting in the shade.

I only need a little - Most people under-apply. It’s recommended to use a nickel-size amount on your face alone.

I'll wait until I get settled on the beach - It takes about 15 minutes for your skin to absorb the sunscreen, so it is best to apply before you go outside.

If I wear a hat, I don't need to put sunscreen on my face - Hats can offer protection, but they're usually too small to totally shade the most vulnerable areas of your face.

My skin tone is dark and I never burn - Even though you have dark(er) skin, you can still develop skin cancer from the sun's UV rays 

I don’t need it on a cloudy day – You can still get burned because about 40 percent of the sun’s UV rays still reach earth on a cloudy day.

I used waterproof (or sweat-proof) sunscreen, so I don't need to reapply it after swimming or sports - According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, all sunscreen—regardless of their claim of being waterproof or sweat-proof—should be reapplied every two hours

I can use old sunscreen - If the sunscreen is past its expiration date, dump it. Sunscreen is designed to remain active for about three years.

I don't need to worry about my lips – Your lips are vulnerable, just like the rest of your body. It is best to use a lip balm with SPF and apply it more frequently than you would a sunscreen for your body.

I wear a makeup with an SPF; that's enough – This is okay for a short trip, but for extended sun exposure, you should wear a stronger sunscreen

To read more about these “sunscreen oops” situations, check out the full article here.