Moms Zone

(courtesy of Ladies Home Journal, www.lhj.com) and brought to you by SunSationalStyle.com

Here are some places you might feel safe from the sun's harmful rays but you'll be surprised to learn you may not be as protected as you think:

Sitting in or near a sunny window.
While UVB rays usually can't penetrate glass, UVA rays (the wrinkle-causing ones) can sail right through. "If your furniture and carpet are getting bleached by the sun, UVA rays are the culprit," says Dr. Halpern.
Fix: Wear SPF 30 sunscreen or block the sun with opaque drapes, shades, or blinds.

Having a picnic under a shady tree.
If a tree screens out 90 percent of the sky, its shade is only equivalent to wearing an SPF 10 sunscreen, according to Purdue University researchers.
Fix: Find a totally shady spot in the shadow of a wall or under a tree where no sun seeps through.

Driving, even with car windows closed.
A 2007 Saint Louis University study found that drivers who spent a lot of time in their car without wearing sunscreen had higher rates of skin cancer on sun-exposed areas, such as the left side of their face and neck and their left arm and hand.

While front windows are made of glass that filters out UVB and most UVA rays, typically side and rear windows (except some tinted ones) aren't.
Fix: Keep broad-spectrum sunscreenin your glove compartment and apply it before you drive or wear a UPF protective driving sleeve.  Also, consider investing in a quality tint for your windows.  Many block out the UVA/UVB rays.

Lounging under a beach umbrella.
Beach sand reflects 25 percent of the sun that hits it. "UV rays can bounce off the sand and find you under the umbrella," says Dr. Halpern.
Fix: You still need SPF 30+ sunscreen and sun protective clothes or swimwear.

Watching a softball game protected by a long-sleeve shirt.
A lightweight white T-shirt gives you protection equivalent to SPF 4; a dark, tightly woven one raises the coverage to 10.
Fix: Invest in sun protective UPF50+ clothing or wash several long-sleeve shirts and long pants in an SPF laundry additive. Or just apply sunscreen to your arms before dressing. And remember to wear a UPF50+ hat.