William Cotter, Gleaner Writer

Before you take in the rays, make sure that you apply generous amounts of sunblock all over the exposed parts of the body. Here, Pulse model Latoya preps for sun exposure. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Before heading out to the beach for a swim or just to bake a while, remember that there is such a thing as too much sun, especially for your skin. You've probably been warned before, but sunburns and sun poisoning are not something you want to leave the beach with this summer. These things can be prevented by taking a few precautionary steps and keeping in mind some important facts.

Skin cancer

Before you learn the rules, you might want to know just how dangerous sun exposure can be. Most prominently, skin cancer should be a concern to everyone, no matter their purpose at the beach or the poolside. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website says that both sunburns and suntans can cause skin cancer, though many people believe that only if you get burned you are at risk of cancer. This damage is caused by the sun's ultraviolet rays.

Ultraviolet or UV radiation can damage the immune system and cause early ageing of skin, making it wrinkled and rough-looking. Skin cancer is a delayed effect of sun damage, so some people, especially youths who choose to tan, won't seem to have any bad, visible effects. This doesn't mean they're immune. The FDA website also says that doctors and scientists are worried that many of the young generation of today who tan may develop skin cancer in their middle ages.

The number of skin-cancer cases is rising, according to the FDA website. People who tan are "greatly increasing their risk of developing skin cancer." People who tan over the course of years, are especially at risk of developing skin cancer since their skin damage will accumulate, causing health concerns later in life. Though skin cancer may not affect everyone who tans, skin ageing will, especially over years in people with darker skin the damage may be less apparent and can take longer to show up on their skin.

Every kind of skin colour (there are six types of skin colours that go from light to dark) can be damaged by the sun, and though it is true that the darker the skin colour the higher the tolerance that person has against burning, keep in mind your body needs very little sunlight to stay healthy. According to the FDA website, the human body doesn't need that much sunlight to produce its essential vitamin D supply. It takes a whole lot less sun to supply the body with vitamin D than it does to get a tan.

So, what can you do to stay safe when out in the sun this summer?

Try not to plan outdoor activities when the sun is most powerful. This is between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Wear protective clothing and accessories like broad-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts and long pants and sunglasses that guarantee 100 per cent UV protection to reduce direct contact with the sun.

When choosing a sunscreen, use one that is broad-spectrum and one with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and reapply it according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Seek medical attention if concerned about any sun exposure issues you may have. Seek immediate medical help if you're skin or eyes are damaged by the sun or in case of an allergic reaction to sunlight.

Seek your personal doctor or dermatologist if you discover you have an unusual mole, scratchy patch or sore that won't heal.

Source: The American Food and Drug Administration government website.