It’s the most wonderful time of the year—right?

If you love cold weather that is!

If you are in the northern hemisphere you’ve begun to experience what we call winter. The days are shorter, the sun is not so intense and it’s cold!

So, with all these layers of clothing we’re wearing—who needs sun protection? The answer: You do!

Year-round use of sun protection cuts your risk of melanoma–the deadliest form of skin cancer–in half.¹

According to Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen…

“This hot news comes from sun-baked Australia, where melanoma risk is two to three times higher than in the United States and Canada. Still, even though we’re further from the equator and it’s winter, stick with a quick daily ritual: Apply a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to your face and neck (arms and legs, too, if your zip code is in the Sunbelt) and to the backs of your hands. True, the UV Index, which gauges the risk of skin damage from cancer-triggering ultraviolet rays, is low across most of North America in winter. But exposed skin’s still vulnerable, especially if you burn easily, spend more than a few minutes outdoors, work close to a sunny window, or have a long commute (the sun’s rays pass through car and train windows.)”²

And for those of you who take to the slopes this time of year—extra attention is needed to protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “UV intensity increases with altitude because there is less atmosphere to absorb the damaging rays. As a result, the chance of damaging your skin increases at higher altitude.”

The reflection off the snow also intensifies the effects of the sun. Fresh snow can reflect as much as 80% of UV radiation and almost doubles your UV exposure.

Increased UV strength at higher altitudes combined with the highly reflective nature of snow is what makes skiing and snowboarding particularly risky. Although your body may be well covered in layers of clothing–your face, neck and hands can be at risk. ³

Again, for maximum protection be sure to apply a moisturizing sunscreen like SkinHealth Technology’s UV SkinCare Facial Light Lotion (SPF 35.) This natural sunscreen provides optimum broad spectrum sun protection to help shield delicate skin from winter sun damage and premature aging.

1,2) www.realage.com
3)  www.uvawareness.com