Worried About Winter Sun?

It's winter, and if you live in a colder climate, you are probably more concerned about windburn than sunburn. However, if you're a skier or planning a trip to the Bahamas or the tanning salon, think again about those golden rays of sunshine.

Even though sunlight is the least intense during winter unless you hibernate, it's impossible to totally avoid the sun's ultraviolet rays that put us at risk for sunburns, prematurely aged skin, wrinkles and skin cancer.

If you live in an area with year-round, bright sunlight, such as Arizona, your risk of skin cancer is twice as high as someone who lives in Minnesota. However, dermatologists say don't be fooled about the cold and the sun. No matter where you live, it's important to protect yourself against winter sun. For example, the snow reflects up to 80 percent of the sun's rays and can cause sunburn and damage to your skin in the winter just as in the summer. Cloudy skies may make the air temperature cooler, but UV rays still pass through clouds. The risk of sun damage is even greater in higher altitudes where there is less atmosphere blocking the sun's rays.

If you work or play outside for any length of time in a strong winter sun, you should take sun precautions. The farther south you go (the closer to the equator, the more intense the sun), the more careful you need to be about sun exposure. The American Academy of Dermatology makes these recommendations for sunscreen:

1. Use a full spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays (there are simply no safe UV rays) and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
2. Always use sunscreen when you are in the sun for more than 20 minutes.
3. Apply sunscreen to your skin 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside.
4. When applying sunscreen, remember to put it on all the skin that is not covered by clothing, including your face, ears, hands, and arms.

Stay away from tanning booths. They pose the same harmful damage to skin as the sun does and can lead to skin cancer. In fact, studies show that people who visit indoor tanning salons have an increased incidence of the most deadly form of skin cancer, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. And a tan from a tanning booth or sunlamp won't protect you in the sun when you go on a vacation.

Skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 65 percent to 90 percent of the most dangerous kind of skin cancer, melanoma, is caused by exposure to UV light or sunlight.

Now, most people know there is no such thing as a beautiful or healthy tan, but they get them anyway. Not only does the sun's UV rays cause cancer but it can increase the risk of cataracts and certain other eye problems and it can activate herpes because it suppresses the immune system. Wearing a protective lip balm that contains sunscreen can cut down on herpes cold sores, too. And, of course, the sun causes wrinkles. Most fine facial wrinkles are due to sun exposure. The bottom line is, enjoy the outdoors, but protect yourself from potential damaging effects down the road.

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External Sources American Academy of Dermatology Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.

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