Tip of the Day: Wear sunscreen whenever you do outdoor work

Sixty-nine percent of Americans said they use sunscreen at least occasionally, according to a nationally representative survey of 1,000 adults conducted in April by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Women who participated in the survey were more likely than men to use it frequently and said they used sunscreen more consistently during a range of outdoor activities.

That last part is key: If you're like me, you probably think to put on sunscreen when you go to the beach or to the pool or head out for a hike. But do you apply sunscreen when you're working around the house? I often neglect to, and while a recent check by my dermatologist showed no signs of any skin problems (even on my hair-challenged head, which is always covered by a good sun hat when I'm outside), I'm taking an unnecessary risk every time I roll out the lawn mower without first putting on sunscreen.

As a colleague of mine noted in a recent Health Weekender blog post, "Real Men Should Wear Sunscreen." Why run the risk of getting skin cancer?

So before you power-wash or stain your deck, trim your hedges, mow your grass, or tackle any other outdoor project, put on sunscreen, and don't forget to wear appropriate eye and ear protection. Our latest report on sunscreens (ratings available to subscribers) details the best product(s), provides expert advice on when and how much sunscreens to apply, and deciphers the sometimes-confusing lingo you see on sunscreen packaging.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Learn more about skin cancer.