Summer is in full swing, and for many that means spending time outside, soaking up the sun.

While getting some sun has its benefits, it is important to take the necessary precautions to prevent overexposure and the harmful side-effects that come with it.

“There are well established risks associated with UV exposure,” said Dr. Rebecca Pomerantz, a dermatologist affiliated with Butler Memorial Hospital. “Burns, skin aging and various forms of skin cancer.”

Precautions include limiting your time in the sun, wearing hats and protective clothing, and, of course, applying sunscreen.

“The SPF tells you how protective your sunscreen is,” said Pomerantz.

The SPF, or sun protection factor, is listed on all sunscreen containers, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least a level of 15 SPF for adequate skin protection.

“We advise people to wear sunscreen daily,” Pomerantz said. “I have my SPF 50 on right now, and it's cloudy out.”

And this doesn't just go for the summer.

The consequences of overexposure to the sun come about due to accumulation of exposure over the years and decades.

“Summer is a when people get a lot of exposure, but year-round sun contributes,” Pomerantz said. “Even exposure through car windows.”

UV rays can harm individuals across all ages and ethnicities, but those with lighter skin are at the greatest risk.

“People with fair skin, especially redheads, are at higher risk for skin cancer,” Pomerantz said. “People with dark skin have less of risk.”

A commonly overlooked source of UV radiation is tanning beds.

“People think tanning beds are safe ... because there is no burn,” Pomerantz said. “We know that tanning beds contribute to skin cancer.”

Tanning beds use UV rays, the same emitted by the sun, to produce the tan.

Meanwhile, there are few regulations when it comes to operating a tanning bed, and there is concern in the medical profession their users are put at a high risk of skin damage and cancer.

The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified tanning beds and tanning lamps into its highest cancer risk category, the same category as other hazardous substances like plutonium.

“It's really not a very regulated industry,” Pomerantz said.

This and many other causes have resulted in a rising rate of skin cancer in America, which experts are still trying to find ways to fight.

“We're not entirely sure why rates of skin cancer are on the rise,” she said. “Increasingly, we're seeing people in their 20s (with skin cancer).”

Rates of melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer, has tripled in the past four decades, according to the National Cancer Institute, and experts are still trying to identify the causal factors.

Pomerantz said a sizable portion of that can be contributed to a lack of awareness.

“Nowadays, there are programs to raise awareness, and they appear to be helping,” said Pomerantz.