People with acne should protect themselves against the harmful rays of the sun, especially if you are using topical retinoids, which increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun, for the treatment of your acne. Follow these simple tips in shielding your skin against future break-outs and even skin cancer.

Apply sunscreen – Put on a generous amount of sunscreen on all exposed skin after apply topical acne medication. Make sure that the sunscreen has at least Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15, provides protection from both Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, and is labeled as “noncomedogenic” (does not clog pores). Re-apply sunscreen every two house, even on cloudy days, and after swimming and perspiring.

Wear protective clothing where possible – Examples of these are long-sleeved shirts, pants, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses.

Seek shade when appropriate – Remember that the sun’s rays are at its strongest between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand – They reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase you chance of sunburn.

Get vitamin D in a safe way – Not only you get vitamin D by sunbathing, which you should avoid, but also through healthy diet that includes vitamin supplements.

Avoid tanning beds – Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds causes skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you’ve been in the sun, try using a self-tanning lotion, but continue to use sunscreen with it.

Check your body once a year – If you notice anything changing, growing, or even bleeding on your skin, see a dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.