00:00It may still be springtime and the temperatures might still be mild.
00:04But don't be fooled. Dangerous UV rays can damage your skin before summer even arrives.
00:10Almost 80% of the sun's rays, the UV light can actually be penetrated even through clouds.
00:16So that means the overcast that you see in these spring days actually can be quite deceptive.
00:22And with the Earth's tilt changing in spring, UV rays hit more directly in the late spring and early summer than they do in late summer.
00:30That means more people are spending time outside unprotected without realizing the risk from the sun's damaging rays.
00:38Make sure you stay in the shade if you can, especially during peak hours between 10 and 4.
00:43And when you are outside, just use extra caution if you're by water, sand, or snow, because these are reflective surfaces.
00:53So yes, you might actually burn faster in March than in August.
00:57To protect yourself, start with daily sunscreen even on cloudy days.
01:02You want a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a sun protective factor or SPF of at least 30 or above.
01:11And you want to make sure that it really covers any exposed skin.
01:15And reapply often. Doctors recommend every two hours or after swimming.
01:20And sunscreen is especially important for children.
01:23One blistering sunburn in childhood actually doubles their risk for melanoma.
01:29It's never too early in the season to think about sun safety.
01:32And one of the easiest things you can do to get ahead is check AccuWeather's UV index each morning before you head outside.
01:39For AccuWeather, I'm Allie Reed.
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