Why sunscreen in the winter?

Knowing that sunlight can lead to skin problems and deeper health concerns, you might start wearing sunscreen more often, especially when the weather is warm and the sun is blazing. But what about winter? As it turns out, your skin can still undergo sun damage during the colder months.

Therefore, you should slap on some sunscreen when temperatures drop, too. Of course, if you bundle up during the winter, you can usually get away with applying less sunscreen, as your clothing will shield your skin from most of the sun’s harmful rays. Still, it’s important to protect your face, hands, and other areas of your body that are exposed during the winter. Plus, remember that snow reflects sunlight, so those rays might be closer to you than you think.

UVB rays, the main cause of sunburn, are the strongest in the summer. However, UVB rays can burn and damage your skin year-round, especially at high altitudes and on reflective surfaces such as snow or ice. Snow reflects up to 80 % of the sun’s UV light, so the rays hit you twice, increasing your risk of developing skin cancer and premature ageing.

UVA rays remain constant throughout the year and can penetrate through clouds and fog. UVA rays can also penetrate glass, so it’s still possible to damage your skin while spending a bright winter day indoors. UVA rays aren’t responsible for sunburn, but they can contribute to skin cancer like melanoma, so it’s essential to protect yourself at all times.

What about when the sun’s not out?

Winter has its share of sunny days, so it makes sense to wear sunscreen this season. But can you skip the screen when it’s overcast? As you might have guessed by now, it’s still intelligent to lather up when it’s gloomy outside. Just because you can’t see the sun doesn’t mean it suddenly isn’t there. And while UVB rays might not make it past the clouds, UVA rays will power through just fine.

Wearing sunscreen in the winter will also help to protect your skin barrier. During the winter months, the skin barrier is more vulnerable to environmental changes, so it’s already working harder to stay balanced and healthy. Wearing sunscreen during the day means the skin cells have less damage to try to repair overnight, which can help protect it from premature ageing.

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