Contrary to popular belief, UV exposure in the cooler months can still cause sun damage even if we don’t actually feel it. Even if the sun is well hidden behind a sky full of clouds, roughly 80% of UV rays still permeate through, putting you at risk as if there were not a cloud in the sky. Sunscreen can be related to a screen door: It blocks out most of the light, but still some rays peak through. Of course, we are expected to cover up more areas of our skin in colder months, so not much of our skin's surface is necessarily exposed, but keep in mind that those harmful UV rays can penetrate through some fabrics. While it’s important to liberally hit all the well-exposed areas such as the face, neck, ears, chest and hands, we should be conscious about protecting our skin, and that means everywhere.
The importance of sunscreen is rarely a topic of conversation in the fall and winter months but that doesn’t make it any less important. Of course, we do not need to lather thick layers of coconut scented sunscreen on our bodies like we do in the summertime, but a lightweight SPF will do just the trick. It’s also important to keep in mind that finding a product that's rich in moisture will help keep your skin hydrated through the cold, dry months.
Overexposure to the sun with no SPF use could potentially lead to:
- Sun spots
- Telangiectasias (broken blood vessels)
- Wrinkles
- Sunburn or sun poisoning
- Potential scarring
- Skin Cancer