The Top Three Reasons Why You Should Wear Sunscreen in the Winter Months

Now, was your mom wrong for lathering you up with a thick layer of sunscreen?

Definitely not…

But what about the rest of the year?

Is your skin magically not susceptible to skin damage when the months get cooler and the sky gets cloudier?

Despites your mom’s efforts to keep you protected, what if I told you that your sunscreen beliefs from a young age weren’t 100% true.  And that you are not the only one that was conditioned to think that you don’t need SPF in the cooler months? At the end of the day, the UV light is less strong, right?

Right! 

UV light does in fact radiate at a lower frequency in the fall, winter, and spring months. This is why so many people think to themselves;

“Why should I wear sunscreen in the cooler months?”

To answer this question, allow me to break it down for you. Since winter is around the corner, I will focus on the importance of wearing it in the winter. However, please keep in mind that sunscreen is important year round.

Below you will find the three main reasons why you should better protect yourself and your loved one’s from the sun during the winter months:

1. UV light is still present 

To get a better understanding of the importance of SPF in the winter months, let’s start off with a quick science crash course.

You may have heard about the UV index in the past, and how it measures the intensity of ultraviolet radiation. But what if I were to tell you that other factors come into play when it comes to UV radiation and its effects on your skin?

Although ultraviolet radiation  tends to radiate at a lower intensity during the winter months, they are still present, and known to have a direct correlation to various skin cancers. This is because other environmental factors that amplify the radiation also come into play. These factors are:

• The latitude and altitude of your environment
• Ice and snow (which reflects and amplifies UV light to your skin)
• Time of day
  
  

Now, I know what you’re thinking… 

“Enough with the science!”

This leads me to the second, and more straight forward reason as to why wearing sunscreen is important in the winter months.

2. Outdoor Activities

Now that you have a deeper understanding of the prevalence of UV radiation in the winter months, I want you to think of all of the time you spend outside during the winter.

Maybe you are:

• A cross country skier
  
• An amateur figure skater that like to take advantage of the outdoor rinks
  
• A dedicated walker that refuses to let the snow get in the way of your daily step goal
  

All of these activities would place you at a higher risk of exposure to UV radiation. Again, this would depend on; the altitude and latitude, the reflection of UV radiation from the ice and/or snow, as well as the time of day in which you are outdoors.

But what  if you don’t fall under any of those categories? Are you still at risk?

The answer is YES! 

This is because whether you want to be outside or not, you are still exposed to sunlight by:

• Hauling your groceries inside your house
• Driving to work
• Sitting by the window, drinking your afternoon tea

Therefore, whether you take advantage of the winter weather, or do your best to stay inside as much as possible, exposing yourself to UV radiation during the winter is inevitable.

This leads me to my final point…

3.  It’s a simple step to add to your skincare routine

Now that we have agreed that avoiding the outdoors during the winter is seemingly impossible, it’s time to take action to protect your skin!

Although applying sunscreen seems like one more thing that you have to worry about, on top of getting appropriate exercise, eating your greens, and surviving the work day, it is a simple step that can be added into your daily skincare routine. And luckily for you, there are so many facial moisturizers on the market that have SPF already in them, so why not take advantage of these products?

And for our outdoor sports enthusiasts?

I know it can be easy to get carried away with the activities you enjoy, but please keep in mind that appropriate use of SPF is crucial while protecting your skin. Therefore, it is always recommended to:

• Follow the directions on your specific sunscreen
  
• Remember to reapply throughout the day
  
• Wear clothing that will protect you from the sun (ex: Goggles, scarves, hats and baseball caps as needed)
  

As you can see, the importance of wearing sunscreen in the winter is undeniable to protect your skin from UV radiation, which has a strong correlation to various skin cancers. Whether you enjoy outdoor activities, or try to avoid the cold weather at all costs, being exposed to UV radiation during the winter months is inevitable.

For more information on the importance of sunscreen, private Vancouver skin care physician, Dr. Shehla Ebrahim, speaks on this topic in her complimentary ebook.

To access your copy of the FREE ebook, fill out your information below.