Winter is a peak travel time with many families opting to seek warmer climates during the cold months of winter. With shorter days and limited sun exposure, it seems like the risk of UV ray exposure from the sun would be low during winter. Read about sun exposure and find out whether you can still experience skin damage in the winter.

Benefits of Wearing Sunscreen

Wearing sunscreen has become common practice in the past 25 years, and for good reason. Sunscreen protects our skin from harmful UV rays caused by sun exposure. Sunscreen acts like a shield, reflecting UV rays from the skin when applied correctly. The higher the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of the product, the more you will be protecting your skin. The protection provided by sunscreen can decrease your risk of contracting a variety of different skin conditions along with other benefits such as helping to prevent signs of aging.

Sunscreen best practices:

• Reapply regularly
• Buy the highest SPF possible
• Get a face moisterizer with SPF
• Ensure you rub in your sunscreen accordingly

Skin Conditions Caused by Sun Exposure

Although nothing feels quite as good as having warm sun on your skin after a long winter, sun exposure can be extremely dangerous to your health. Although seeking a golden tan while on vacation is tempting, it is vital to take the appropriate steps to protect yourself from sun damage. Not only can too much sun cause a nasty sunburn, however, sun can lead to serious health conditions.

Health risks associated with sun damage include:

• Skin cancers like Melanoma
• Severe burns
• Aging spots and scarring
• Immune suppression

Sun damage can lead to serious health complications which often present themselves later in life. Although the consequences may seem far fetched, the easiest way to prevent health complications due to sun damage is to ensure that you are protecting yourself from the sun at all times. Low UV ray levels do not mean that you are not prone to sun damage. In fact, leaving your skin unprotected in the winter is a sneaky way for long term sun damage to occur.

When to Wear Sunscreen

Although you cannot technically wear too much sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage, there are certainly times when you may not need sunscreen. When you’re indoors, the exposure to UV rays is limited, making sunscreen less of a necessity. However, having a face moisterizer during the winter months that contains SPF can help ensure that when you do go outdoors in the cold, the skin that is exposed to the elements is well protected.

Individuals who enjoy outdoor activities and sports such as skiing should consider investing in a quality sunscreen. UV exposure is higher in high altitudes. Even though you may not feel the suns rays when on top of a mountain, you’re much closer to them than usual, making it important to protect yourself from exposure while you’re outdoors. Reapplying while on the mountain is also important, as windy conditions and snow can remove SPF products from the skin.

Visit AFC Urgent Care Aurora Saddle Rock for Preventative Healthcare Services on a Walk-In Basis

Taking preventative health measures can help you stay healthy later in life. Although the application of sunscreen may only seem to prevent you from getting a tan on your vacation, it can help protect you from more serious health conditions in the future. At AFC Urgent Care Aurora Saddle Rock, we offer a wide variety of preventative healthcare services. Protect your health for years to come by walking into AFC Urgent Care Aurora Saddle Rock for preventative healthcare services with no appointment required.

Our healthcare professionals are available 7 days a week with extended business hours so that it is easy to get the healthcare that you need, when you need it. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer low cost care options for patients paying out of pocket for their care. Simply walk into our clinic or pre-register your visit online. For additional questions regarding our clinic, please contact us directly.