Sun Myths Quiz

Throughout life we've all heard mixed messages about the sun's damaging rays and how we may or may not be affected by them. The sun CANNOT affect your skin while driving. The sun CAN affect your skin while driving. The theories counter one another endlessly. And, while some stick steadfast to those that they've learned since early childhood, WebMD is taking numerous sun myths to task in their True/False Quiz below.

True or False: One bad sunburn in childhood raises your skin cancer risk.

True: Kids are at high risk in the sun because it's easier for them to get sunburned. A baby's skin can burn in less than 10 minutes. Kids also tend to spend a lot of time outside and don't put sunscreen on themselves. Keep babies younger than 6 months out of the sun and protected by hats and clothes. Their thin skin is too young for sunscreen.

True or False: People with darker skin can't get sunburns or skin cancer.

False: Everybody can burn. People of color are often diagnosed with skin cancer at later stages because of a myth that only those with lighter skin can develop it.

True or False: Skin cancer only grows on places that have been exposed to the sun.

False: Skin cancers can grow anywhere on the body. There is a strong link between sun exposure and the two most common non-melanoma skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. These mostly grow on the face, ears, and hands.

True or False: A base tan can help protect your skin from the sun.

False: There's no such thing as a safe tan. If you spend any time in the sun, you expose your skin to damaging UV rays. Tanned skin is damaged skin. It raises your risk for skin cancer and speeds up your skin's aging process.

True or False: Makeup can help protect your skin from the sun.

True: Look for moisturizers, eye creams, foundations, and lipsticks that have SPF. Powder can help keep them in place. Skip shiny, high-gloss lipsticks, which can attract UV rays to your lips. If you want the wet look, apply a colored lipstick first, and then top with gloss.

For more information on summer skin care - and to see what other questions WebMD asks and answers regarding common sun myths - click here: http://www.webmd.com/beauty/sun/rm-quiz-sun-myths-facts