Protecting your face and body from harmful sun damage should be a high priority! According to statistics, about 1 million new skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the United States. Keep in mind, most of the average person's lifetime exposure occurs before the age of 18 so children are most at risk. Overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause immediate effects such as sunburn and long-term problems such as skin cancer and cataracts.

To obtain accurate sun exposure levels check Today’s Sunburn Forecast on SuperPages.com daily. This estimate of UV intensity is based upon monitoring performed by the National Weather Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The sunburn forecast takes into account clouds and other local conditions that affect the amount of UV radiation reaching the ground in different regions. By monitoring levels you can better plan your outdoor activities to prevent overexposure to the sun’s rays.

In addition, there are a few other precautions that will enable you to protect your skin. Limit your time in the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m, during this time UV Index levels are at their highest. Also, if you anticipate being in the sun wear tightly woven and loose fitting clothes, a wide brimmed hat and UV-protective sunglasses.

If you plan to be out in the sun and the above precautions aren't doable, be sure to wear sunscreen! Here are some helpful hints to help you choose and use sunscreen properly while having fun in the sun. Purchase sunscreen that has at least a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Use it liberally, better too have more than less when being exposed to ultraviolet rays. Most recommend that you also look for sunscreen that contains UVA and UVB protection.

These types of sunscreen are most often called "broad-spectrum" sunscreens. The main key to successful protection is reapplying! You will find no application "rules" on your bottle, but the suggested norm is every couple of hours. If you are sweating or swimming, most recommend reapplying more often.

Also, remember to avoid sun lamps and tanning salons.

Today’s Sunburn Forecast(TM) does not take into account incidental UV radiation that a person may be exposed to in various locales, based upon local conditions. This may include reflected UV radiation, so actual exposure may be higher if you are on water, snow, or other particular surfaces which may reflect light onto your skin, increasing radiation above what you receive directly from the sun. So, it’s important to safeguard yourself in some cases, even if the Sunburn Forecast rating indicates low exposure.

Today’s Sunburn Forecast(TM) is one of SuperPages.com’s products intended to enhance the quality of life for our consumers. Today’s Sunburn Forecast(TM) is one element of SuperPages.com’s local Weather Pages, found within the City Pages. Today’s Sunburn Forecast is not yet available for all US cities, but it soon will be. For more information on the effects of UV radiation and educational resources, go to the Environmental Protection Agency’s web site.

Today’s Sunburn Forecast is a trademark of Verizon Information Services, all rights reserved. Article copyright of SuperPages.com, 2002, all rights reserved.