During the heat of summer, layering on sunscreen makes perfect sense. You don’t want to end your day of fun on the beach with a week of misery dealing with a sunburn, but when it comes to spending time outdoors in the winter, people are less likely to remember the protective sunscreen before they head out. Here are a few reasons why you need to wear sunscreen in winter.
1 – Wind & Low Moisture Levels are Tough on Skin
You have likely noticed that your skin is drier and more sensitive when it’s cold outside. During the winter, there is less humidity and often increased wind speeds, so your skin is constantly stripped of moisture. Dryness reveals every wrinkle and fine line in the skin’s surface, and it makes your skin more likely to crack or tear, exposing you to infection risk. Using sunscreen in the winter can help restore some of your skin’s depleted moisture.
2 – The Ozone Layer is Thinnest in Winter
The stratosphere is a layer of protective gases that surround the planet. This protective layer of gases is referred to as the stratosphere because the gases are stratified (layered). Near the top of the stratosphere (furthest from the earth), is the ozone layer that absorbs and reflects the UV rays from the sun. Ozone production increases more quickly in warm temperatures and more slowly in cold. For this reason, the ozone layer is thinner at the earth’s poles where temperatures are very low, and the coverage is thinnest elsewhere around the globe during the colder winter months. That means even though the sun doesn’t feel as hot, you are actually exposed to greater intensity UV rays.
3 – Keep Your Skin Looking Young & Healthy Longer
The sun’s rays are known to accelerate the skin’s ageing process and decrease the production of collagen and elastin that help to keep skin looking youthful. Sunscreens protect skin from the sun’s rays and add moisture back into dry skin, addressing two concerns at once. Additionally, many studies of sunscreen users suggest that daily application of can actually slow the ageing process and keep skin looking more youthful.
4 – Indoor Lights are Damaging to Skin as Well
Even if you’re not planning to go outdoors, new studies are indicating that the light from computers, TVs, cellphone screens, and even lamps and other types of indoor lighting may be adding to skin damage. Daily application of sunscreen will protect your skin from damage caused by exposure to any light waves.
5 – Winter Weather Makes Sunscreen Wear off More Quickly
Sweating in the heat of summer, going for a swim, or spending time on sandy beaches will all make sunscreen come off more quickly. Thus, you need to reapply regularly. Many people don’t realise that the harsh winter weather conditions will actually reduce sunscreen’s effectiveness just as quickly. Wind, snow, sleet, and the low temperatures themselves all combine to weaken sunscreen, so you’ll need to reapply frequently for optimal protection. Lunchtime is the perfect time for reapplication of your sunscreen in the winter months.
6 – You are Still at Risk for Skin Cancer from Sun Damage
For years, it was believed that UVB rays, which are not as strong during the winter, were the more dangerous. These are the rays linked to the noticeable forms of skin damage like sunburn, age spots, and multiple forms of skin cancers. Today, we know that UVA rays may be much more damaging even though they don’t cause immediate damage to the skin like sunburns. Instead, UVA rays penetrate deeper and are the cause of the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma. Unlike UVB rays, the strength of UVA rays is consistent all year long.
7 – The Effects of Sun Exposure are Cumulative
New research and the publication of the findings of long term studies are revealing important information about the cumulative effects of sun exposure. It seems that the more time your skin is exposed to UVA/UVB rays over a lifetime, the greater your risk for skin cancer. Studies indicate that high levels of lifetime sun exposure are responsible for most cases of basal and squamous cell skin cancer.
SOLACE
Solace suncare products are endorsed by dermatologists and CANSA South Africa for SPF protection and proud sponsor of IRONMAN South Africa. Up to SPF50, the non-irritant Solace Sunscreen range contains both UVA & UVB protection to ensure maximum protection against the harmful rays of the sun. It is water and sweat resistant ensuring maximum protection for sport and outdoor activities.
Solace SPF contains titanium dioxide. It protects skin from UVA and UVB radiation and is considered no risk of skin sensitivity. Because it’s gentle, it is a great sunscreen for sensitive, redness-prone skin and is even suitable for baby’s sensitive skin. View the SOLACE sunscreen range here.
How to apply SOLACE
- Shake well before use.
- Apply liberally to face and body, 15-20 minutes before exposure to the sun, for maximum protection.
- Re-apply after swimming, towelling or every 45-60 minutes (depending on skin type).
Resource: U.S. Dermatology Partners physician Dr. Alexandra Theriault of Apex Dermatology Group in Denver and Littleton, Colorado. https://www.usdermatologypartners.com