You are probably in the habit of only wearing sunscreen to the beach, pool or when you are planning on spending the day completely outside, right? Well the sun is up there 365 days a year and you need protection all 365 of those days. Why do you need a sunscreen in the winter? Because the snow and ice reflect sunlight, so although it may seem dark and gray outside you are still at risk!
You must wear an SPF of 15 or higher for all outdoor activities: shopping, errands, running etc. Make sure you are applying every 2 hours and use a broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen. And make it water- proof!
And last but not least by any means! A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine back in 2013 found that test subjects who used a daily sunscreen cut the speed of the skin’s aging process down by 24%, compared to those that did not. Hopefully the antiaging properties is enough to persuade you 🙂
Top 5 Things You Need To Know About Sunscreen
- Apply in Advance Always apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before sun exposure for optimal protection
- Don’t be stingy The average adult should be applying 2.5-3 ounces of sunscreen to the body for adequate protection. That’s about 1 shot glass full.
- Waterproof Sunscreen? Myth or Truth? There is no such thing as TRULY water proof sunscreen. You must re-apply after swimming, excessively sweating or just being active outside.
- Beware of Heights For every 1,000 foot increase in altitude the suns potency increases. If you are around the snow, remember to frequently re-apply your sunscreen since the snow reflects UV rays.
- Kid Stuff Children 6 months and younger shouldn’t use sun screen. Keep them in the shade and dress them in sun protective clothing for protection against the suns rays.
