Winter Sun Safety

Think you are safe from the sun just because it is the winter time? While the days are shorter during the winter, the sun can give you a burn just as it does during the summer! Have you ever seen a friend coming home from a ski vacation looking sunburned all over his face except around his eyes where his goggles covered? Well, he definitely forgot to wear his sunscreen!

Ultraviolet rays penetrate from the sun to the earth's surface all year round. You don't want to forget this, because you might end up with a winter sunburn that you never even expected. This is especially true when you go skiing since the light reflects off the snow
and back up at you.

So what should you look for in a sunscreen for winter? Since winter skin is often dry, you may want to try a sunscreen with thicker cream base rather than a thinner lotion or a spray that you may use in the summer. If you can't find a sunscreen that fits your needs, then apply a moisturizer in addition to the sunscreen. Finally, if your skin is irritated in cold weather, consider a sunscreen for sensitive skin. These often have physical blockers such as zinc or titanium in them rather than chemical blockers (such as avobenzone and others) which cause can cause allergies in some people.