Winter Skin Alert: Wear Sunscreen

Skin Care•on December 30th, 2011•Comments Off

Adapted from: (http://www.ivillage.com/winter-skin-alert-wear-sunscreen)

It’s cold in winter, so you don’t have to wear sunscreen, right?  Wrong.  Actually, you need it more. In the winter, the sun is closer to the earth and its rays are even stronger.  Although it’s true that you’re outside for less time and are more bundled up when you are, your face and hands are still exposed to harmful rays.  The unfortunate message  from dermatologists everywhere is that is you don’t wear sunscreen year-round, you are more vulnerable to getting brown spots, fine lines and wrinkles on your hands and face.  Minimize your damage by wearing sunblock daily with at least an SPF 15.   Remember these sunscreen tips:

  • UVA and UVB Protection: Choose a sunscreen that protects you from UVA and UVB rays, which both cause your skin to show signs of sunburn and age. Many sunscreens only protect you from UVB rays, so make sure the sunscreen you buy contains ingredients that protect you from both.  (The ingredient Parsol 1789, for example, filters out A and B.)
  • Wear Sunscreen Indoors and Out.  Even if you’re inside, ultraviolet exposure can occur through windows and cause skin problems over the years.  Many people have extra sun damage on the left side of the face because of sun exposure through the driver’s-side car window
  • Quality Counts: You may have to pay a little more for sunscreen that’s formulated for your face but it’s worth it.  These products are usually non-comedogenic, so they won’t clog pores, and they are lightweight and absorb quickly. 
  • Don’t Play in the Snow Without It! Snow reflects about 80 % of the ultraviolet light that hits it.  For every 1,000 feet of elevation, ultraviolet exposure increases about 2 %.  So if you’re out skiing, skating, mountain climbing or sledding, you need at least SPF 30 to protect against the added exposure.
  • Fly with It. Don’t forget to carry a small bottle of sunscreen with you to the airport.  The higher you are in the sky, the more UV radiation you’re exposed to.  That means the more potential you have for skin damage.  Apply a sunscreen of SPF 30 all over your face before leaving the gate. 
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