NEW YORK (November, 14, 2024) — As fall turns to winter, we start to experience cooler weather and fewer sunlight hours. It can be tempting to slack off on sun protection when we feel cold, but protecting yourself from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays is imperative year-round — especially if you plan to spend time outdoors skiing, snowboarding or engaging in another cold-weather sport.
“Frostbite and windburn are common concerns for winter athletes, but people often don’t realize that the sun’s UV rays can be just as damaging on the slopes as they are on the beach,” says Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD, President of The Skin Cancer Foundation. “The science shows that it’s important to practice proper sun protection all year, even in cold or cloudy weather.”
Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, which lead to tanning, dark spots and wrinkles, remain constant throughout the year and can penetrate through clouds and fog. Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, which are mainly responsible for sunburn, are the strongest in the summer. However, UVB rays can burn and damage your skin during winter too, especially if you’re around reflective surfaces such as snow or ice. Snow reflects up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV light, so the rays hit you twice, further increasing your risk of skin cancer and premature aging.
Skiers and snowboarders are at an even greater risk because these sports take place at a higher altitude, where the thinner atmosphere absorbs fewer of the sun’s rays. UV radiation exposure increases 4 to 5 percent with every 1,000 feet above sea level.
In addition to causing premature skin aging, unprotected sun exposure is also a serious risk factor for skin cancer. About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 86 percent of melanomas are associated with exposure to UV radiation from the sun, which is why it’s imperative to protect yourself no matter the season.
How to Protect Yourself When Enjoying Winter Sports
Your first line of defense against sun damage is clothing. Covering up is easier when it’s cold. However, your face, head and neck tend to remain exposed year-round, and this is where most skin cancers occur. Skiers and snowboarders are ahead of the game when they protect their scalps with a helmet, and their eyes with goggles. Almost all goggles available today are made of polycarbonate, which filters out 100 percent of UV rays. For the moments you’re not actively flying down the slope, don’t forget your UV-blocking sunglasses, which protect your eyes while also fighting snow glare, and a broad-brimmed hat.
Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 or higher daily to all exposed skin, and make sure to cover often-missed spots like the tops of your ears, around the eyes and near the hairline. Consider choosing a moisturizing sunscreen with ingredients like lanolin or glycerin to combat dry winter skin. Finally, try to avoid the peak sun hours (generally between 10 AM and 2 PM in the winter months), and seek shade when you can.
Winter is approaching, but that’s no reason to let up on the sun-safe habits you practiced during the summer. Continuing sun protection efforts through the colder, cloudier months of the year reduces your risk of premature skin aging and developing the world’s most common cancer.
About The Skin Cancer Foundation
The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, saves and improves lives by empowering people to take a proactive approach to daily sun protection and the early detection and treatment of skin cancer. The Foundation delivers public education programs, provides patients with guidance and reassurance, engages medical professionals, awards research grants and leads advocacy campaigns that call for policy changes. As a service to consumers, the SCF grants its’ industry-recognized Seal of Recommendation to products that meet its criteria for safe and effective sun protection. SCF also operates Destination Healthy Skin, a program that works with local dermatologists in communities around the U.S. to provide free skin cancer screenings and education to those in need. Since its inception in 1979, the Foundation has recommended regular skin exams and following a complete sun protection strategy that includes seeking shade, daily sunscreen use and covering up with clothing, hats and sunglasses. SkinCancer.org.
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