When the weather is nice throughout the summertime people can spend more time outdoors, but sunscreen is an important piece to protecting you against the sun.

Dallas County Health Department Public Information Officer Ann Cochran says it’s important to wear sunscreen when you are outdoors to ward off the main health threat which is the potential for developing skin cancer.

“Make sure everyone in your household has a supply of broad spectrum sunscreen. Try to choose products that every member of your family will be likely to actually use and keep it handy in places that allow them to apply it and reapply it as needed. Another thing is headgear that your family members will actually wear. Please choose hats that will shade your face, your ears and your neck.”

Cochran tells Raccoon Valley Radio another important factor is that ultraviolet rays from the sun not only damage the skin but they can also damage the eyes as well.

“Please provide your very young children sunglasses and good ones that block both the UVB and the UVA rays and when you buy them it will say that right on the tag.”

Cochran says for most people, skin cancer can happen years later if sunscreen is not used properly.