Sunburns are pretty normal every summer as almost everyone wants to go to the beach and enjoy the sun. However, the Skin Cancer Foundation suggests that allowing ourselves to have at least five sunburns in a lifetime increases our risks to skin cancer twice.

John Blomstedt, a dermatologist, said to Star Herald that most of the people receive major sun exposure at age 18 to 20 years old. Thus, indicating that patients with skin cancer have gotten younger than before.

The problem with being sunburned was that our skin doesn’t heal entirely because the ultraviolet rays of the sun damage the skin cells. Our skin may look like it had recovered from outside but not inside.

“I have taken off moles that have started to change on kids in their teens,” he said. “We’re seeing melanoma now in people in their twenties, which is a lot younger than it used to be.” The average age before was 40 but now it’s down to 30.

Those who love faking a tan by going to tanning salons are more at risk than those who go to the beach. Fifteen minutes of lying on those tanning beds is equivalent to an hour of sun exposure.

Those with fair skin and light-colored eyes have the highest risk. But this doesn’t mean that those with darker skin or eyes should not be worried as he had encountered some patients who have dark complexions and yet they were diagnosed with skin cancer.

Blomstedt recommends people to stay away from the sun, if possible, between 2 and 4 p.m as these are the times when everyone is at risk to major sun exposure . It is best to wear long-sleeved tops and pants, and pile up a lot of sunscreen if you really need to step out.

He also advised people to use sunscreens with an SPF of around 50 with UVA and UVB protection even if some say that SPF 30 is enough. It is better to receive a protection 50 times longer to ensure we avoid sunburns. It should also be reapplied every two to three hours especially when outdoors or on a swim. Even sunglasses should have UVA and UVB protection as well.

Sudden appearances of moles or dark patches are indications that something is wrong with the skin. If they have been there for more than a month, it is advisable to see a dermatologist immediately.