Over a million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States. Among those who are developing skin cancer at higher rates are adults. This fact seems a bit out of line to me; as a mother I am constantly slathering my kids in sunblock. I carry a tube in my purse and diaper bag, another tube lives in my car and there are several containers sprinkled throughout our house. Sunblock is not just a summertime accessory, it is a year-round necessity.

As mentioned by Brian White on our sister site, That's Fit, a recent study revealed that adults in some states are more negligent than in others. I was a bit surprised to learn that Utah is the worst culprit when it comes to sunburns, while Kentucky ranks in the bottom 10 states. I thought the beach states or the higher-altitude states like Colorado would rank higher. But regardless of rank, the fact that adult sunburns are the rise is alarming. Prevention is so easy and painless, the consequences too harsh. By simply donning a wide-brimmed hat, wearing longer sleeves, applying sunscreen, and not playing in the sun during the prime exposure hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., sunburns can be significantly reduced.