Think you know about the sun? What you know might not be true. Check out these facts, courtesy of skin experts.

Myth: Only old people get skin cancer.

Fact: Skin cancer is more common in older adults. But nonmelanoma skin cancers are increasingly being diagnosed in people younger than 40, especially women, probably both because of more UV exposure and better screening for cancer. And melanoma can form in all ages, even adolescents.

Myth: They won’t form on skin “where the sun don’t shine.”

Fact: Sun exposure is strongly tied to skin cancer. But melanomas, the most dangerous skin cancers, are more likely to appear in spots that rarely see sun. That’s why doctors recommend people check all over their bodies for suspicious skin changes.

Myth: People with dark skin don’t need to worry.

Fact: About 1 in 50 whites will develop melanoma in their life, compared to 1 in 200 Latinos and 1 in 1,000 African Americans. Native Americans have melanoma rates similar to Latinos, and Asian Americans have rates similar to African Americans. But nonwhites are more likely to develop melanoma on their legs and feet and to have the cancers found when they are more advanced and harder to treat.

Myth: You can tan safely.

Fact: Whether in the sun or under a bulb, tans come from exposing your skin to ultraviolet radiation. And UV rays increase your risk for cancer. There’s no avoiding that fact. That doesn’t mean you can never get in the sun. But you should try to avoid all sunburns and regular or deep tans, if not all tanning. The only exception: bronzers and other sunless tans-in-a-can.