evidence: The big picture: Sunscreen is an important part of a complete sun protection strategy to safeguard your skin against sun damage and skin cancer. But sunscreen alone isn’t enough to keep you safe in the sun. [...] Decrease your risk of skin cancers and skin precancers. Studies show that regular daily use of SPF 15 sunscreen, when used as directed, can reduce your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by about 40 percent, and lower your melanoma risk by 50 percent. [...] Sunscreen reduces your overall UV exposure and lowers your risk of skin cancer and sun damage.