The cold weather makes you think that the need to use sunscreen has ended, and that you are now free to renew it every two hours, but is this true? How do we protect our skin on cold days?
When it comes to skin cancer, the main risk factor is prolonged exposure to UV rays. Understanding how these rays work and how they damage your skin is an important first step in protecting yourself from skin cancer.
Ultraviolet rays
The Skin Cancer Foundation of the United States website notes that UV rays are part of the natural energy produced by the sun. On the electromagnetic spectrum, ultraviolet light has shorter wavelengths than visible light, so your eyes can’t see UV rays, but your skin can feel them.
Two types of ultraviolet radiation have been shown to contribute to skin cancer risk:
1- Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, which have a longer wavelength. It is mainly associated with tanning and skin aging, but may also lead to sunburn. These rays remain constant throughout the year and can penetrate clouds and fog. They can also penetrate glass, so they can still harm your skin while spending a bright winter day indoors.
2-Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays have a shorter wavelength. It is mainly associated with sunburn. These rays are strongest in the summer. However, they can burn and damage your skin year-round, especially at high altitudes and on reflective surfaces like snow or ice. Snow reflects up to 80% of the sun’s ultraviolet light, so the rays hit you twice, increasing your risk of skin cancer and premature aging.
This means that you should use sunscreen in the winter as normal as any time of the year.
What sunscreen should I use?
Dr Youssef Mohamed, a senior research fellow at the University of Queensland, tells the British newspaper The Guardian that it is important to use sunscreen with an SPF of 30+ or higher. The SPF level is just an indicator of how long a person will remain protected.
Sunscreens are also known to degrade at certain temperatures, and usually expire within 3 to 6 months (as indicated on the packaging). Do not use sunscreen if it is expired.
How do we protect our skin on cold days?
Clothing should be your first line of defense against sun damage. Covering the body is easier in the winter because it’s cold, but the face, head and neck tend to remain uncovered year-round, and that’s where most skin cancer cases occur, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation of the United States.
It is recommended to apply sunscreen every day, applying sunscreen 20 minutes before going out, reapplying it every two hours, or immediately after swimming, sweating, or towel drying.
It is recommended to apply the equivalent of two tablespoons of sunscreen to exposed areas of the face and body, a dime-sized amount on the face alone.