Clearly, the summer of 2022 is long gone. As a result, you won’t need to break out the sunscreen for months, right? Wrong. Sunscreen is every bit as important during the winter as it is in the summer. While we Albertans recognize that we still have about a month to go before we can officially say that it is wintertime, Mother Nature is saying otherwise.
The cold temperatures and the snow on the ground tell us that winter preparations are necessary now. In addition to the scarves, gloves and toques, sunscreen is an important part of staying protected. Of course, the latter protects us from the sun’s harmful UV rays as opposed to the cold. Yes, the sun’s UV rays are hard at work during the winter!
Snow intensifies the sun’s rays.
It’s doesn’t matter if the temperature is below zero. The sun is still shining, isn’t it? You may assume that sunburn is impossible during winter. However, those UV rays are beaming down on all of us. They’re also beaming down on the snow which is known to reflect UV rays. According to Beaumont.org, snow and ice can reflect up to 90% of UV rays.
“These harmful rays can not only can cause skin cancer, but are also the source of about 90 percent of all wrinkles, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” explains the site, “This winter, don’t let those clouds fool you; the sun’s reflection can be incredibly powerful.”
Winter conditions can erode sunscreen faster.
You know how when you’re at the beach on a hot summer day, you sweat? Such a situation calls for the reapplication of sunscreen. The same can be said about the time after a swim. Well, during the winter, there is still reason to reapply your sunscreen. You may not be sweating, but as Aubrey Almanza on TheHealthy.com points out, winter’s harsh conditions erode your sunscreen even faster.
“The Skin Cancer Foundation cautions that snow and strong winds wear away sunscreen and reduce its effectiveness, so during winter, you can’t just apply in the morning and assume you’re protected all day,” she writes, “Instead, it’s recommended that during winter you reapply every two hours, and immediately after sweating.”
You can still experience sun damage during the winter.
As we’ve made clear, the wintertime is still a point in the year when your skin can be damaged by the sun. If you’ve encountered any sun damage, you may want to consider BBL. Broadband Light is the world’s most powerful IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) device on the market. It sets new standards in treating skin conditions associated with aging, active life-styles and sun damage.
For clear glowing skin, we would also recommend HydraFacial. The treatment cleanses your skin by removing impurities and unclogging pores, brightens your complexion, smoothes out the appearance of fine lines and provides deep hydration. Until the end of November, if you buy one Deluxe or Platinum HydraFacial treatment, you will receive complimentary take-home Perk! You can choose either a Lip Perk or an Eye Perk treatment add-on.
If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment, please don’t hesitate to call Aurora Skin & Vein at 403-358-5818. You may also email us at amlvc@telus.net.