We all know how crucial sunscreen is when it comes to skincare and when you play an outdoor sport like golf it becomes even more critical.

If you think don’t need to use sunscreen during cloudy days ~ think again!

Even if it's rainy or cloudy you still should apply sunscreen to all of your exposed skin areas, because the clouds don't block the harmful UVA and UVB rays from penetrating your skin. "According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, clouds filter less than 25% of the UV rays that penetrate your skin to cause skin cancer," says Dr. Tony Yuan, MD and board-certified physician at Doctor On Demand. "Even though you may feel cooler on a cloudy day, your skin will still absorb a majority of the UVA and UVB rays," he adds. Bottom line, never skip sunscreen, regardless of the weather.

Did you also know that #Sunscreen with a super-high SPF does NOT last all day long? Applying it just once a day isn't going to cut it.

"SPF numbers are based on how much the sunscreen will block UVB rays from damaging your skin over a period of two hours," explains Dr. Yuan. "After that, the effectiveness of the protection decreases dramatically," he says. This leaves your skin vulnerable to overexposure to the harmful UV rays. Always re-apply sunscreen every two hours while you are exposed to the sun, he recommends. Moreover, note that a normal sunscreen only offers protection against UVB rays. So, opt for one that mentions 'broad-spectrum' on the label. A broad-spectrum sunscreen will effectively protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays.

Now let's think about this in the context of playing a round of golf which typically can take up to 4 hours or more.   That would mean you should be taking a pit stop not just to pick up a snack or drink on the turn but you should also be re-applying your sunscreen.  No one wants to be playing golf with greasy sunscreen hands, so this is why we recommend throwing in a Sunscreen Brush  (Like this one from LaaTeeDa Sports) in your golf bag along with your sunscreen so that you can reapply your sunscreen without getting it all over your hands.

No sunscreen offers complete protection, no matter how high the SPF. "There is no single sunscreen that can block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. This is why it's important to wear protective gear such as sunglasses, loose protective clothes, and hats — to reduce the risk of a sunburn," says Dr. Yuan. In addition, stay in the shade as much as possible. And avoid sun exposure during peak hours — between 10 am and 2 pm if possible.

Other than that, don't forget to apply sunscreen over commonly overlooked areas like your back, feet, ears and hairline.

If you've sensitive skin, use a physical sunscreen that contains ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. 

And lastly, don't use expired sunblock or sunscreen. It's not only ineffective but might also damage your skin.