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From warm weather activities like outdoor picnics and hanging out at the pool, to cold weather strolls, skating and skiing, sun protection is important in any type of weather.
Continue reading for some tips and tricks to help protect your skin from the sun.
Protect Your Skin Before You Head Outside
Most of us associate wearing sunscreen with summertime and warm weather activities. But skin can experience sun damage when it’s cold outside, too.
Even on cold, cloudy days, the sun is still emitting rays, even though they may be less noticeable. Wearing sunscreen year-round not only lowers skin cancer risk factors, but also helps prevent sunburn and early signs of aging.
Best Sunscreens for Year-Round Skin Protection
It may seem like a no-brainer: Pick a sunscreen — any sunscreen — and put it on. But there's actually more to it than that. When choosing a sunscreen, it’s important to consider these factors, no matter what time of year you wear it:
Ultraviolet A (UVA) vs. Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. The sun emits both types of rays. While both types can contribute to skin cancer, UVB rays are more responsible for sunburns, while UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and can cause long-term damage. A sunscreen that’s labeled “Broad Spectrum” protects skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, rates how effective the sunscreen is in preventing sunburn. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97% of UVB rays.1
Sunscreen ingredients matter. Mineral sunscreens, or chemical-free options, contain active ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that are less irritating to sensitive skin. These types of sunscreens are also recommended for kids and babies, whose skin is naturally more sensitive than adult skin and more susceptible to sunburn.2
Match Your Sunscreen to Your Activity
Follow these sun protection tips to protect your skin year-round.
- If you'll be swimming, exercising or perspiring, it's important to choose a sunscreen that won't quickly wash away. The label should indicate how long the SPF can remain effective in wet conditions (typically 40 or 80 minutes). No sunscreen can claim to be completely waterproof, so you'll need to reapply after the elapsed amount of time.3
- Reflective surfaces like water, snow and ice can intensify the sun’s UVA and UVB rays and increase your risk of sunburn. If you’re boating or swimming in warm weather months, or skiing, snowboarding, or sledding during winter months, be aware of the sun’s increased intensity and make sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours.4
- Skin has lower moisture levels during cooler months and wearing sunscreen can help restore some of your skin’s depleted moisture.
- The ozone layer is thinnest in the winter.4 That means that even if it feels cold, your skin is exposed to more intense UV rays.
- The clothes you wear can help protect you from the sun! Look for fabrics that are a UPF of at least 30, and dark or bright colors can help block the sun from your skin. Loose-fitting, dense fabrics are a good bet for sun protection.5
Tips on How to Apply Sunscreen
In addition to wearing sunscreen year-round, quality and application count too. Here are a few pointers:1
- Apply sunscreen evenly over all areas of your exposed skin to help ensure total protection. This includes hard-to-reach or often-overlooked spots like the back of your neck, tips of your ears, tops of your feet and middle of your back.
- About one ounce of sunscreen is recommended to cover all areas of exposed skin.1
- For best results, apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply at least every two hours — regardless of SPF or water-resistant level.
- Sunscreen loses its effectiveness over time, so avoid using expired sunscreen.
Skin Protection from Sun Damage
Skin cancer, including melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, is a serious danger associated with unprotected sun exposure, but it isn't the only one. The sun's harsh rays can cause premature aging and other dramatic changes in the appearance of your skin, regardless of your skin type, including:6
- Uneven pigmentation in the form of freckles and age spots
- Yellow discoloration of the skin
- A breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers, resulting in wrinkles, lines and sagging skin
Fortunately, in many cases it's possible to reduce or even reverse the signs of sun damage. Special skin treatments, chemical peels, dermabrasion, laser resurfacing, BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments and facial fillers, facelifts and other cosmetic procedures are all options, depending on the level of skin damage.7
Schedule Annual Skin Screenings
If you do spend a lot of time outdoors, consider scheduling an annual head-to-toe skin cancer check with a dermatologist and be sure to mention any skin changes, including any new moles or unusual spots on your skin. It’s also a good idea to do monthly skin self-exams at home.8
The CareCredit credit card is an easy way to pay for dermatology appointments, skin care treatments and sunscreen products at participating pharmacy locations nationwide.* Use the Acceptance Locator or download the CareCredit Mobile App to find a provider near you that accepts CareCredit.
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