BAY MINETTE, Ala. — The South enjoys warm weather and sunny skies for much of the year, and nowhere else boasts beautiful rays like Baldwin County. But visitors and locals alike should remember to couple skin protection with their outdoor activities, even as autumn begins.

Teenagers from Baldwin County High School said they went to the beach or the bay for spring break this year.

Hillary Burger, a recent graduate, was one such beach-goer.

“The mountains are fun when it’s cold and snowy, but when it’s warm and sunny you want to lay out and just soak up the sun,” she said.

Megan Shaughnessy, of the BCHS class of 2011, agreed.

“Some of my family lives down there so we went to see them,” she said. “It’s great to just go to the beach and have fun and do whatever.”

Boo Simon, a May graduate, said he visited the bay for spring break.

“I like to get on the jet ski and go fast,” he said. “And every once in a while I like to throw a line in the water and catch a fish.”

“While many people enjoy rejuvenating, outside endeavors, it’s important to remember that they come at a price.

Experts warn against outdoor activities without proper sun shields. They say protection is needed no matter the season.

Shirley Lewis, a licensed practicing nurse at Bay Shore Dermatology, said that sun protection is important because of harmful effects now and in the future.

“I know that teens want to be tan and beautiful,” she said. “But UVA rays from the sun are very damaging.

“They go deep into the skin and can cause skin cancer, not in five or 10 or even 15 years, but many years later.

“I know some senior citizens that it’s not the sun they get now, but the sun they got when they were teens that caused problems.”

Sandra Pimperl, a licensedpracticing nurse at North Baldwin Infirmary’s pediatrics office, agreed.

“One longterm effect is skin cancer,” she said. “You’re going to get blisters and it could turn into stage two or three burns.

“Most of the time people get second-degree burns because they don’t get out of the sun soon enough.”

She said that sunburns are extremely prevalent during beach vacations.

“Some people probably don’t use a high enough sunblock,” she said. “We recommend a SPF 30 or higher.

“If you get wet you should reapply and reapply a certain amount of times.”

Lewis said there are several options for sun protection.

“Check sunscreen to be sure it is UVA- and UVB-protective,” she said. “They can wear hats, sunglasses — even some clothes and bathing suits have SPF in them.”

Most importantly, just be smart, she said.

“Just use good old common sense,” she said. “Don’t burn, and tan gradually.

“We don’t tell people to stay out of the sun completely,” she said. “Go out there and have fun, just take precautions.”