ALWAYS apply a sunscreen before you go outdoors, especially to your face, neck and hands. That means 365 days a year, rain, shine or clouds. Choose a sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more, with a broad spectrum of protection against both UV-A and UV-B rays.

Use a sunblock on your lips, preferably with an SPF of 20 or above.

Wear sunglasses with UV-A and UV-B light protection.

Wear long pants, a shirt with long sleeves and a hat with a wide brim.

Limit your time outdoors when sun is at its highest (about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Certain medications such as antibiotics can increase your vulnerability to sunburn. Check with your doctor.

What to do if you think you already have skin damage

Be sure to see your doctor immediately if you have any unusual looking moles or changes in your skin. Don't wait.

You may be able to improve appearance of moderately sun damaged skin with alpha-hydroxy acids, which remove dead skin cells from out layers of your skin, leaving it softer and smoother. Chemical peels, laser resurfacing or microdermabrasion may also be helpful.

Since contact lenses which are not properly fitted to eye may cause damage, take steps to have your contacts checked by your physician after they’re delivered. Simply make an appointment with your eye care specialist and bring new contacts with you, so that prescription and fit can be evaluated. Though this may sound like extra work – and, in some cases, a bit of an extra cost – it’s well worth doing if it saves you from experiencing vision problems as a result of poorly constructed contact lenses.

There’s nothing wrong with purchasing products online – and nearly everyone has done so at one time or another – but greater care needs to be taken when these purchases involve items that relate to your health in any way. Once damaged, your eyes may not be repairable, which may result in blindness. By doing your homework and exercising common sense, you’ll ultimately save yourself a lot of time, trouble and money.