How often do you need to apply sunscreen? Do you need to worry about the sun on cloudy days? What are the peak hours when the sun is strongest? Not sure? You're not alone.

According to a recent survey from the Banana Boat sunscreen brand, many Canadians are struggling with their basic knowledge of sun care safety.

The survey revealed fewer than one in 10 adult respondents apply sunscreen every two hours, which is the standard among experts, according to dermatologist Dr. Julia Carroll. When asked why they don't apply sunscreen as often as they should, almost half of respondents (44 per cent) didn't know sunscreen is supposed to be applied every two hours.

"The average Canadian buys one to two bottles of sunscreen for their entire family each summer," says Carroll.

"This is nowhere near enough sunscreen needed for proper application, which is one ounce(about the size of a golf ball) every two hours. It's time to put Canadians to the test to find out what other sun care basics they're lacking."

Together, Carroll and the Banana Boat brand have created the Sun 101 Quiz. Here are a few questions to shed light on your sun safety awareness:

1. True or False: Wearing the proper amount of sunscreen during peak hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) is enough to protect yourself from the sun.

FALSE: Wearing the proper amount of sunscreen with the correct SPF for your skin is a great first step in sun protection. However, extra measures are required to fully protect yourself, especially during peak hours:

. Limit sun exposure - seek shade from a tree or use an umbrella

. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes . Wear protective clothing and large-brimmed hats

2. True or False: Only those with fair skin are at risk for skin cancer and need to use sunscreen.

FALSE: Although your skin type can help dictate the amount of time you can stay in the sun without burning, those with darker skin need to remember that they are not immune to sun damage. There are other risk factors that can increase your chances of developing skin cancer, including: never wearing sunscreen; working, playing or exercising in the sun for long periods of time; having one blistering sunburn as a child; and taking drugs that make you more sensitive to UV light.

3. True or False: Both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays can cause skin damage and skin cancer.

TRUE: Although they impact the skin in different ways, both types of rays can cause serious skin damage. UVA rays penetrate your skin more deeply, causing pre-mature aging and long-term skin damage, such as wrinkles and sun spots. UVB rays penetrate the outer layer of your skin, and are responsible for sunburns. Too much of either can eventually lead to skin cancer.

- To learn more about sun care basics, take the full quiz at www.sunsafety101.ca.

WWW.NEWSCANADA.COM