Sun Facts

• Protecting the skin during the first 18 years of life can reduce the risk of some types of skin cancer by up to 78%.
• You can get sunburned even on a cloudy day since up to 80% of the sun's rays can penetrate light clouds, mist, and fog.
• Experts warn that a single severe sunburn during the first 15 years of life may double the risk of skin cancer.
• Cataracts, which were once considered an inevitable part of aging, are also associated with UV exposure.
• Snow reflects the sun like a mirror. Fresh snow reflects up to 85% of the sun's rays.
• You can get sunburned when you are in the water! Water reflects an additional 5% of the sun's rays back on you.
• Even dry surfaces reflect the sun's rays! Concrete reflects 10% to 12% of the sun's rays.
• UV exposure is greater in the mountains than in the valleys because the air is cleaner and thinner at higher altitudes.
• Much of the UV exposure we get is from daily activities such as walking a dog, getting the mail, or walking to a train or bus stop.