Myth 1. If you don't get a sunburn, you're fine.

Henry Lim, a photodermatologist at Henry Ford Health, said UV exposure can negatively affect the DNA of unprotected skin — even if your skin looks fine to the naked eye. These effects are cumulative.

"Each time the skin is damaged by the sun, with or without sunburn reaction, there is some damage that the skin would have to repair," Lim said. "If that subclinical damage goes on often enough for a long enough period of time, the skin’s ability to be able to completely repair all that DNA damage will be compromised."

Myth 2. Sunscreen will prevent your body from getting vitamin D.

Only a small amount of sun exposure is needed to produce enough vitamin D for your body. For example, a study of white people in Boston found that five to 10 minutes of sun exposure to the face, arms, and legs two or three times a week during the summer was enough to produce the necessary vitamin D for the body.

Lim also noted that even if you apply sunscreen, you'll still be able to get the minimum amount of sun exposure. "When we use sunscreen, we don't apply enough," he said. "It's just human nature."

For people who are concerned about their vitamin D levels, Anne Chapas, a dermatologist in Manhattan and a clinical instructor at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, recommends getting it from foods or supplements instead.

"You do need vitamin D to be healthy, but there are multiple ways to get it," Chapas said.

Myth 3. Chemicals in sunscreen can cause cancer.

Currently, FDA regulates the active ingredients in sunscreens sold in the United States, and the agency has determined that the ingredients are safe and effective. The National Academies have also said that "sunscreen use is not linked to higher rates of any type of cancer."

In fact, sunscreen can help protect you from skin cancers, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. UVA and UVB rays damage the DNA in skin cells, which leads to mutations. Over time, these mutations can accumulate and cause tumors to grow.

"If you're trying not to get cancer, then wear sunscreen," Chapas said.

Myth 4. Sunscreen isn't necessary when the UV index is low.

The UV index primarily measures UVB rays, which affect the outermost layers of skin and cause sunburns and tans. However, even if UVB levels are low, you still need to protect yourself from UVA rays, which can reach below the skin's surface.

"As long as there is light out there, there's enough UVA" to cause tanning and wrinkles — and to increase the risk of skin cancer, Lim said.

Chapas agreed, saying that "Even on cloudy days, about 80% of the sun's rays come through and you can still get sun damage."

Myth 5. You don't need sunscreen if you have dark skin.

Even people with darker skin tones can get sun damage and skin cancer. In fact, Seemal Desai, president of the American Academy of Dermatology, said that "skin cancer in patients with darker skin tones is often diagnosed in later stages, when it's more difficult to treat."

Chapas also added that since darker skin is likely to produce melanin when exposed to the sun, it may become discolored more easily than lighter skin.

Myth 6. Mineral sunscreens are safer than chemical sunscreens.

According to Lim, both chemical and mineral sunscreens are safe to use, but there are fewer unknowns with mineral sunscreens since they don't get absorbed into the skin.

Abel Torres, chair of the dermatology department at the University of Florida College of Medicine, also noted mineral sunscreens generally last longer than chemical ones. "If you know you're going to be on the beach for a long time, mineral may be a better choice because you won't have to worry about having to reapply it as much," he said.

Myth 7. Building a 'base tan' can protect you from the sun.

Although a tan can provide some protection against the sun, it is equal to less than SPF 5, Lim said, which is not enough to offer the same protection as sunscreen.

In addition, having a tan is a form of sun damage. "When our skin is exposed to UV light, it stimulates the production of melanin to prevent more UV from entering the skin and damaging the underlying skin cells," Chapas said. "A tan isn't healthy. A tan is actually your body trying to protect itself."

Myth 8. The antioxidant astaxanthin can act as an 'internal sunscreen.'

Antioxidants can help protect you from sun damage by minimizing the sun's oxidative damage to DNA or by helping to counteract the production of a destructive molecule called reactive oxygen species.

Although including antioxidants in your sun protection regimen can be helpful, antioxidants alone cannot prevent sun damage. "There are no pills that act as effectively as a sunscreen," Chapas said.

Myth 9. Chemicals in sunscreens can enter your bloodstream and build up over time.

Currently, there are no long-term studies of people's blood when using sunscreen regularly, so it's not clear whether sunscreen enters the bloodstream and builds up over time. However, Lim noted that the chemicals in sunscreen are excreted in urine, which suggests that they don't linger in the body.

If you're concerned about chemical sunscreens, Lim recommends using mineral sunscreens instead.

Myth 10. A good hat will be enough to prevent sun damage.

Although a wide-brimmed hat can help protect you from the sun, it will only block UV rays that come from above. If you don't use sunscreen, you'll still be affected by sun rays reflecting off water, sand, or urban surfaces like a sidewalk.

In general, health experts recommend using several methods to protect yourself from sun damage, including but not limited to sunscreen.

Pooja Shah, a dermatologist and director of women's skin health & wellness at Northwell Health, recommends wearing protective clothing, including broad hats and gloves. She also recommends getting a lip balm with SPF since "skin cancer on the lip can be pretty high risk."

"Our goal is to not get a burn or a tan because they are equally damaging to the skin, both in terms of skin cancer and aging," Shah said. "Proper sun protection, seeing your dermatologist to get skin checks, [these] are all the right things to do." (Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 6/25; Henderson, MedPage Today, 6/25)

Millions of cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year, and many of them have been linked to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Writing for NPR's "Shots," Allison Aubrey offers six expert-backed tips on how to protect your skin from sun damage,