Skin care

The 15 Sunscreen Mistakes You're Making

These skin care tips will show you how not to be a repeat offender of sunscreen slip-ups

by Molly Roemer

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Raise your hand if you've ever gotten an embarrassing, lobster-like sunburn or a dorky farmer's tan. Yup, us too. What about having tanorexic tendencies by soaking up the sun any chance you get and/or hitting up the tanning bed for that insta-bronze and rush of endorphins? Check. Or what about arduously applying sunscreen, but missing that big patch on your upper back, the tops of your feet or your scalp? Check. If you're guilty as charged to some of these sunscreen offenses, then let's get with it already and make healthy skin a priority.

Expert dermatologists Dr. Linda Evans and Dr. Debra Jailman set the record straight about some of the many sunscreen misconceptions out there. And here they offer up solutions to the mistakes you might be making by clarifying things like how much sunscreen you should use and how often to apply it, and they suggest winning skin care products that'll prevent sun damage -- since it's not healthy or pretty. Case in point: Evans said that she has a few patients who are older nuns (yes, nuns see dermatologists too) and they have minimal skin damage (thanks to years wearing habits and never exposing their bodies). On the other hand, her patients who worship the sun have skin with way more free-radical damage and consequently look a lot older. While we're not suggesting that you need to take vows of poverty, chastity and service and never wear a bikini again to keep your skin safe -- we are saying it might be time to stop making these common sunscreen mistakes that can damage your skin for good.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Mistake: Not using enough sunscreen

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Older comments

I usually wear sunscreen on my face everyday, but now I guess I should start incorporating hats.

by Lili04 Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 03:27AM Report as inappropriate

ouch!

by LittleBunny Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 09:58AM Report as inappropriate

Great tips! I never wear sunscreen on my drive to work in the morning; I need to start doing it!

by Karica4 Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 12:03PM Report as inappropriate

gotta start using sunscreen

by mayra_alonzo Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 06:48PM Report as inappropriate

As being sunscreen conscious is the best defense we have against the signs of aging it is important that we learn all we can and use the information!

by ShanthiDevi Monday, March 19, 2012 at 12:32AM Report as inappropriate

More people need to read and follow these instructions!!

by tallredamanda Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 05:21AM Report as inappropriate

I agree that sun protection is very important, but is sun really THAT bad? I live in a cold place where it's hardly ever sunny and I usually don't wear any protection. Let's be realistic, everybody is making these mistakes. There are so many rules that we are just not able to follow all of them.

by patricia89 Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 04:09AM Report as inappropriate

Ughh, I do lots of these wrong oops

by sportimonki13 Friday, December 30, 2011 at 12:28AM Report as inappropriate

Great info, thanks!

by grass Monday, December 5, 2011 at 05:54PM Report as inappropriate

ughh i do these sometimes

by Nicole2814 Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 10:11AM Report as inappropriate