A: It helps. But don't forget you still get sunlight reflected off the water, so keep using sunscreen, Keri says.

EVERYDAY NOTIONS

Q: Does it help to toss on a T-shirt when I come out of the water?

A: Very little, says Keri. A white T-shirt has an SPF of only about 3, she says. But you can buy sun-protective swimwear, coverups, hats, even long-sleeve shirts and pants. The clothing is impregnated with zinc oxide or titanium oxide, the same ingredients in many sunscreens. While sunscreen is measured in SPF (sun protection factor), clothing is rated in UPF (ultraviolet protection factor). Try stores like Target, Kmart and Walmart or Google ``sun protective clothing.''

Q: Can dark-skinned people get sunburns?

A: Dark-skinned people are less susceptible because the melanin that gives their skin its color absorbs UV radiation, Keri says, ``but they can still burn.''

Q: What about tanning lotions that bronze the skin?

A: They're OK, Keri says, as long as the active ingredient is dihydroxyacetone (or DHA), which reacts with dead cells on your skin to turn you tan. But the tan you get gives you protection up to only an SPF of 3, so it won't help much against the real sun. Some tanning creams include protective ingredients with SPFs of 15 or higher. But that lasts only about 90 minutes, not the duration of the tan, which is usually about five days.

Q: Can I get a safe tan at a tanning salon?

A: The Skin Cancer Foundation warns against them altogether. So does Keri: ''They're just a way to try to convince consumers they're healthy when they're not,'' she says.

Q: I've heard I should wear sunscreen just walking from my house to my car, from my car to my place of work. Can that be true?

A: Keri says yes: ''I apply it in the morning, at lunch and after work.'' Men and women can get makeup and skin lotions with an SPF of at least 15, so use those whenever possible. You might want a little extra on your left arm if it's exposed to the sun while you drive.

Q: I hear the human body needs vitamin D and gets it from unprotected exposure to the sun. Will I get enough if I take so many protective measures?

This is a matter of debate in the medical community. Some doctors, including rheumatologist James Dowd, author of the The Vitamin D Cure,advise at least some unprotected exposure to the sun. The known benefits of vitamin D -- which can be blocked by SPFs rated 8 or higher -- include helping calcium build strong bones, and researchers have looked in the vitamin's role in staving off colon cancer, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and heart disease.

Dermatologists like Keri say the risks of damage from unprotected exposure outweigh the potential benefits, and that vitamin D can be obtained in foods and supplements. Good sources include salmon, mackerel, sardines, fortified milk or cereals like Kashi or Total.

The National Institutes of Health, pointing out that UV radiation is a carcinogen that accumulates over a lifetime, concludes: ``It is not known whether a desirable level of regular sun exposure exists that imposes no (or minimal) risk of skin cancer over time.''

There is no definitive answer, so you may want to consult your doctor.

Q: Should I worry about my pets getting skin cancer?

A: Dogs, cats and even horses suffer from sunburn, solar dermatitis and skin cancer. Sunscreens are actually recommended by the American Animal Hospital Association for some animals. The sunscreen should be fragrance-free, nonstaining and contain UVA and UVB blockers. Because most human sunscreens can be toxic if ingested by a dog or a cat (and they will try to lick it off) it's best to use a pet-specific product. Doggles, Nutri-vet and Epi-Pet all produce pet-specific sunscreens and can be found online.

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