You’re Probably Not Applying Sunscreen the Right Way, According to Dermatologists Prevention 4 hrs ago Kayla Blanton Applying sunscreen seems like it should be a no-brainer. Slather (or spray) it on and repeat every few hours. Easy peasy, right? Turns out, there is a *right* way to apply sunscreen. “There are a lot of things that people don’t realize they could do slightly differently that would benefit them tremendously,” says Orit Markowitz, M.D., FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of OptiSkin. That’s important since sunscreen isn’t as effective unless it’s applied properly. When you do use it correctly, you protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, reducing your risk of sunburn, skin cancer, and premature signs of aging. No wonder Y. Claire Chang, M.D., a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology in New York, says that “sunscreen is the most crucial step of your regular skincare routine.”