Sun safety all year

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The deadliest form of skin cancer is melanoma. And the number of cases goes up every year. More than 73,000 people will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2015 alone. 

"I used to rollerblade a lot, I used to be in the sun, I love to go to the beach," Gavin Pratt said.

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Don't kid yourself. Skin cancer is not just a summer danger. Thirty percent of women and only 14 percent of men say they use sunscreen regularly, but our skin needs protection every day. Experts at the Centers for Disease Control say dangerous ultraviolet rays from the sun can reach you on cloudy days as well as bright and sunny ones.

UV rays reflect off of everything from water, cement, sand, and snow. Keep your skin healthy by covering up with clothing! Try to wear dark clothes that cover your arms and legs and a wide-brimmed hat to block UV rays.

The beach is fun, but avoid it between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., that's when the sun's rays are the strongest. Opt for a sunset walk or a morning run instead.

And use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30 and reapply every one to two hours. This means you'll have 30 times the protection of no sunscreen at all. Suffering five or more sunburns doubles your risk of developing melanoma.

And experts say it's best to apply that sunscreen at least 30 minutes before getting out in the sun. Put it on before leaving your house to give it a chance to sink into your skin.

And remember, the best sun safety is to stay out of the sun!

It's not just your skin that can burn.  Your eyes can too! Invest in a pair of polarized sun glasses with 100-percent UVA and UVB absorption to help block out the harmful rays to your eyes.