Did you know that you can get sunburnt in the snow?! We may not have snow in Hawaii except on the mountain peaks, but here are some reasons why you shouldn’t skip the sunscreen this winter, no matter the temperature or the location.
UV rays are responsible for skin damage and aging. These rays are able to penetrate through the many layers of your skin and cause cellular damage. This results in painful sunburns, fine lines, wrinkles, sunspots, and even skin cancer.
Significant reflection of harmful UV Rays by snow, ice, and surf, can easily cause sunburn, even if it’s freezing outside. The white colors of winter, although beautiful, can actually do more harm. They powerfully reflect UV light onto yourself and your skin. Colder temperatures can also dry out your skin, leaving it more vulnerable to any UV exposure.
The ozone (the Earth’s sunshield) is at it’s thinnest during the winter months meaning we have less ozone absorbing UV rays. This leaves us with less natural protection from the sunburn and sun damage that these UV rays cause, creating the need for sunscreen year-round.
Just because UV rays are less direct in the winter, does not mean they’re not still at work! Even if you don’t get a sunburn, exposure to UV rays can still cause skin cancer, wrinkles, and overall aging of the skin, no matter what time of the year.
It is recommended to wear at least SPF 30 on all sun-exposed skin year-round to help fend off all the damaging UV rays. There are many fantastic products and cosmetics that make sun protection easy and a vital part of an everyday skincare routine! So be sure to cover up!
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