The Time

• The time of day plays an important role in determining likelihood of sun damage. UV rays are strongest during midday. Avoiding the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. will limit the risk of sun damage.
  
  

Skin Type

• No matter the time of day, skin color either increases the risk of sun damage or reduces it. According to the Mayo Clinic website, the burn factor is classifed from Type 1 to Type 6. Type 1 skin, which is pale white skin, never tans and always burns and Type 6 skin, which is dark brown or black, always tans but rarely burns.
  
  

Caution

• Even people with dark skin can develop skin cancer as the sun penetrates deeply into the skin. According to the Mayo Clinic, this often occurs on lighter areas such as the palms.
  
  

Considerations

• In addition to time of day and skin type, location can also contribute to the likelihood of sun damage. People living at high altitudes are exposed to more radiation, which increases risk of sun damage. Additionally, exposure to sunlight during the winter has the same risk as exposure during the summer, according to the WebMD website.