SUMMER'S COMING, SO BREAK OUT THE SUNSCREEN.

• Position: Brief Article

Sunscreens aren't just for days at the beach or sitting in the bleachers at the ballpark. They should be a part of life even on days when sun exposure is limited to a walk across the parking lot or sitting by a window at work, according to Karen Nishimura, a physician and clinical instructor at Stanford (Calif.) Medical Center's Dermatology Clinic. She says most people can lower their long-term risk of skin cancer by using sunscreen every day to protect against the harmful effects of exposure that build up over time. "Think of sunscreen as a skin-enhancing lotion. In fact, many common cosmetics now contain sun-protective ingredients"

Nishimura suggests that you examine the label to see whether the lotion, moisturizer, lip balm, or other cosmetic product contains a sunscreen designed to protect against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. The label will probably tell you the "sun protection factor" (SPF), which will give a rough approximation of how long you can stay in the sun without burning. For example, if you normally burn in 10 minutes, SPF 30 provides about 30 times 10 (300) minutes of protection before burning. Individual tolerance to the sun is quite variable, though. For instance, fair-skinned people tend to burn more quickly.

"Remember, however, that long-term damage to skin can occur over time even when there is no visible sign of burning or skin damage," Nishimura cautions. While...