With these skin-saving tips, you can learn not to burn ...

REMEMBER EASY-TO-MISS SPOTS

The most vulnerable parts of the body are often the ones that get overlooked when applying sunscreen. To make sure your kids are covered, teach them "BEENS." This useful acronym from Maryellen Maguire-Eisen, executive director of the Children's Melanoma Prevention Foundation, stands for Back of knees, Ears, Eye area, Neck, and Scalp (if visible).

Bottom line: For a handy reminder, write "BEENS" on your sunscreen bottles.

DO SOME RESEARCH

With so many products clamoring for attention, it's not easy to know which sunscreen is right for your family. Luckily, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group offers online ratings of more than 1,000 sunscreens to help you determine which ones are safe and effective.

Bottom line: Before slathering a sunscreen on your kids, see how it fares at ewg.org.

BE GENEROUS WITH SUNSCREEN

We may all use sunscreen, but most of us aren't putting on enough. "If you apply a third of the recommended dose of an SPF 30 product, the protection is more like SPF 10," says Maryellen Maguire-Eisen.

Bottom line: Adults should apply an ounce (about a handful; see above), and kids half that much, of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every two hours, and more frequently if they're swimming or sweating.

COVER UP

To avoid burns when the sun is strongest (between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.), dermatologist Elizabeth Hale recommends taking frequent shade breaks, wearing a UV-protective shirt while swimming, and using a sunscreen with zinc oxide.

Bottom line: "You probably can't keep kids out of the mid-day sun completely," says Dr. Hale. "So it's important to be all the more vigilant about protection during those hours."

GET SOME RELIEF

If your child gets a sunburn, New York City pediatrician Anatoly Belilovsky suggests giving her an anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen (not aspirin), and having her drink water to stay hydrated. Other soothers include a room-temperature bath with a therapeutic oatmeal product (Aveeno makes one), and aloe vera, from the plant or in a lotion.

Bottom line: "Anti-inflammatories combat both pain and inflammation," says Dr. Belilovsky. "But avoiding the burn in the first place is even more effective."