The image of a healthy person today does not necessarily include a deep, dark tan. Research has linked exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays to skin cancer, premature wrinkles, and other skin problems. While protective clothing such as hats, pants,...

Sunscreens are products applied to the skin to protect against the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. While everyone needs a little sunshine (15 minutes a day helps the body make vitamin D), longer exposure may cause problems from...

Sun Protection Protection from the damaging ultraviolet rays of sunlight. Scientists have found a strong link between exposure to direct and reflected sunlight and a number of health risks. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, a component of sunlight, causes...

Sunscreen (also known as sunblock, suntan lotion) is a lotion, spray or other topical product that is supposed to protect the skin from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and which reduces sunburn and other skin damage, with the goal of lowering the...

Survey shows disappointing, alarming lack of sunscreen use Dermatologist Brian B. Adams, M.D., M.P.H., remembers avoiding sunscreen as a college athlete. He says that he and other athletes did not use sunscreen, despite spending long hours at peak times exposed to ultraviolet...

Prior to the 1920's, skin color was an important indicator of one's social status in European and eastern Asian countries. Dark skin resulting from exposure to the elements was generally associated with outdoor manual labor, thus evoking a working-class connotation. Pale skin was...

Sunscreen and insect repellent in the same bottle? The products may save time, but the government is questioning if there should be more oversight. The issue: A handful of small studies, using animal and human skin cells, suggest mixing sunscreen with the insect repellent DEET...

Think slathering on the highest-number sunscreen at the beach or pool will spare you skin cancer and premature wrinkles? Probably not, if you're in the sun a lot. That's because you don't need a sunburn to suffer the effects that...