Men's Fitness: Death rays: few things are as fun as soaking up the sun. But could your tan be deadly? Take our quiz and find out

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Death rays: few things are as fun as soaking up the sun. But could your tan be deadly? Take our quiz and find out

Catching a few rays is good for your health, but getting too much sun can De risky. We asked Vincent DeLeo, M.D., chairman of dermatology at St. Luke's/Roosevelt and Beth Israel Medical centers, to devise a quiz to help you calculate your overall skin-cancer risk. Is it time to head inside? Find out by answering the following questions and tracking your total score:

Which best describes you?

* Pale skin and red hair;
never tan; burn easily           +3

* Blond hair and blue eyes;
usually tan but burn easily      +2

* Dark skin and dark eyes;
tan but don't burn               +1

* Moderately dark-skinned

* African-American or
Asian descent                     0

* Very dark-skinned
African American                 -1

Do you wear sunscreen?

* Never  +1  * Always  -2

What's your family history
of skin cancer?

* Parents or siblings nave
or have had melanoma             +3

* Parents or siblings have
or have had skin cancer
other than melanoma              +1

* No family history of
the disease                       0

Have you ever used
a tanning booth?

* Yes  +2   * No  0

Did you experience three or
more sunburns that led to
blisters before the age of 18?

* Yes  +2   * No  0

If you had to estimate,
how many moles do have
on your body?

* More than 50                   +2

* 11-49                          +1

* Fewer than 10                   0

Where do you live?

* Southern U.S.                  +2

* Northern U.S.                  +1

Do you vacation in a sunny
location two or more weeks
a year?

* Yes  +2   * No  0

Do you have freckles on
your upper back, chest,
arms, or lower legs?

* Yes                            +1

* Only on my face, if any         0

Where do you work?

* Outdoors  +2   * Indoors  0

Tally up you points.

15 or higher: You have an extreme risk of skin cancer. Limit your sun exposure, especially during the middle hours of the day, when the sun's rays are at their most extreme--and be sure always to use a sunblock or face cream with an SPF of 15 or higher every morning. Schedule a visit to a dermatologist for further evaluation.

8-14: You have an elevated risk of skin cancer. Keep an eye on moles and freckles to make sure there are no changes in size or appearance. You should avoid sun exposure in the middle of the day and always wear a sunscreen of SPF 15 or above. You should also consider seeing a dermatologist.

7 or lower: You have an average risk of skin cancer. Wear sunblock whenever you're going to be exposed to the sun for more than a few minutes, do your best to avoid burns, and be sure to have your family doctor look over your skin at least once a year.