Prolonged, unprotected exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays can cause premature looking skin and cancer. Sadly, between 40 and 50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will develop some form of skin cancer – including melanoma, which kills one person every hour in the U.S.

July is UV Safety Month – the perfect time to brush up on skin-protection strategies that will help you guard against skin cancer – and also avoid looking old before your time.

1. Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, a hat.
2. Protect your eyes from sun damage with wrap-around sunglasses having 99 or higher UV block.
3. If possible, avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are their strongest.
4. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen 20 minutes before going outdoors that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Choose one that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15. Coat all exposed areas, including the tops of your ears.
5. Reapply sunscreen frequently. All types of sunscreen must be throughout the day, especially after sweating or skimming. A good guideline is once every hour or two.
6. Beware of reflective surfaces, such as water, sand and windows. When sunlight bounces off reflective surfaces, it can increase your chances of sunburn.
7. Don’t let your skin burn! Just one sunburn during your lifetime increases the odds that you’ll get skin cancer. The more sunburns, the higher the risk goes.

Remember, too, that your skin can burn even on cloudy days and in winter, so the best strategy of all is to make these skin-saving tips a year-round habit.