Many people tend to be vigilant about their skin care and protection during the spring and summer months but get more lax and nonchalant in the fall and winter. However, when it comes to protecting your skin and preventing skin cancer, the process occurs all year, not just when it is warm out and you have more skin exposed. So before you head out to enjoy your winter days out on the slopes or sledding and having snowball fights in the park, get to know more about protecting your skin and preventing skin cancer this winter and take the best care of your skin as possible.
Dry Skin Isn't Your Only Worry
Many people are so focused on preventing their skin from drying out and getting flaky in the winter that they do not do anything else when they are out in the cold weather. They lather on the moisturizer and then head out to play.
While keeping your skin hydrated is very important in the winter, sun protection is the most important way to protect your skin from wrinkles and from the dangerous UV rays that can cause skin cancer to develop. As such, if you are putting on moisturizer, make sure it has a sunscreen in it. And you should probably be putting on additional sunscreen unless the moisturizer has a high SPF rating.
And as an added tip, pay special attention to your nose in the winter months when you are outdoors. It generally will get more sun exposure than any other area of your face, especially if you are wearing a hat, scarf, and earmuffs. Use a thick sunscreen like zinc oxide on your nose so it stays on and is better protected.
Don't Forget Your Eyes
Again, protective eyewear (sunglasses) are usually associated with summer fashions and outdoor activities. However, protecting your eyes from UV exposure is also extremely important in the winter months.
The skin on and around your eyes is thinner than the rest of the skin on your face and is more easily damaged by exposure to extreme cold and by the rays of the sun than the other skin on your face. This means that it requires less exposure to sustain damage.
So, do not forget to always put on sunglasses or UV protective goggles (when engaging in winter sports) when you are outdoors in the winter. This will not only help to prevent you from having difficulty seeing when the sun reflects off of the snow, but it will protect your eyes and the skin around them from UV and direct cold air related damage.
Now that you know more about protecting your skin and preventing skin cancer in the winter, you can be sure to take the necessary precautions this winter. Remember that if you have any discolorations or chronic dry patches of skin after being outdoors in the winter you should head to a dermatology clinic, such as Dermatology Associates PC, right away to get them checked this winter. By following these steps, you will be sure that you and your skin make it through the winter as healthily as possible.
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