Cold weather is no reason to ease up on your sunscreen routine, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. While UVB rays, which are the primary cause of sunburn, are weaker in the winter, UVA rays remain steady year-round and can penetrate clouds and fog, as well as windows. On a snowy day, UVA rays can actually be worse — snow reflects up to 80 percent of UV light, so the rays hit you twice.
The best protection is an even coat of broad spectrum sunscreen over all exposed skin, even the tops of your ears and around your hairline. A moisturizing sunscreen can do double duty, protecting you from the sun and harsh winter air.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
