Can you put cream on my back?
PWOH-ee met-TEHR-mee la KREH-mah SOO-llah SKYE-nah.
Ask a friend or companion at the beach to apply sunscreen to your back — the area you cannot easily reach yourself. A completely normal and common beach request.
Puoi is the informal tu form of potere (can/to be able to). Mettermi is the infinitive mettere (to put) with mi (to me) attached. La crema is the cream or sunscreen. Sulla schiena means on the back.
Devo mettere la protezione solare?
Should I put on sun protection?
Asking whether sunscreen is necessary.
Che fattore di protezione usi?
What factor of protection do you use?
Asking about SPF factor.
Si brucia subito con questo sole?
Do you burn quickly in this sun?
Warning about the intensity of Italian summer sun.
Italy's summer sun is genuinely dangerous. The UV index at Italian beaches in July and August regularly reaches 9-11 (extreme). Italian dermatologists recommend avoiding sun exposure between 11:00 and 16:00. Many Italian lido-goers use the noon hours for lunch in the shade, returning to the beach in the late afternoon.