Skin Conditions - General

Protection from sun exposure is important all year round, not just during the summer or at the beach. Any time the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays are able to reach the earth, you need to protect yourself from excessive sun exposure. UV rays can cause skin damage during any season or temperature.

Relatively speaking, the hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during daylight savings time (9 a.m. - 3 p.m. during standard time) are the most hazardous for UV exposure in the continental United States. UV radiation is the greatest during the late spring and early summer in North America.

A February, 2007 study from the St. Louis University School of Medicine, presented to the American Academy of Dermatology, reports that people who experience long-term (cumulative) exposure to the sun through the side windows of cars are more likely to develop skin cancer on that side of their body.