Gather and slather, that is the mantra of Washington County Public Health Administrator Danielle Pettit-Majewski when it comes to using sunscreen. She says it’s recommended to use lotion instead of sprays, as it can help get a more even protection on your skin and the sprays cause particles to go into the air that you can breath. There are other tips to keep in mind when purchasing sunscreen, “You want to look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protection for both UVA and UVB rays. But you also want to look at the SPF, because sometimes you think, ‘Oh, I want to get the highest number possible.’ But really what you want to do, is you want to stick between SPF15 and SPF55, because sometimes when you have a higher SPF it can fool you into thinking that you can stay out in the sun longer without needing to reapply.” And you may need to reapply more often if you are sweating profusely, or swimming and then drying your skin off with a towel.

Sunscreen does have an expiration date, check it before you use it. Pettit-Majewski also recommends putting on sunscreen and waiting about 15 minutes before going outside so that your skin has time to absorb it. Try putting on sunscreen before driving to the pool to give it time to absorb. Remember to put sunscreen anywhere your skin is exposed, or will be exposed as your clothes move – the back of your neck, your ears, the top of your head or parts in your hair, and the tops of your feet when wearing sandals.