Will you get sunburned in winter?

Every season is SPF season. It was getting colder and colder, so we began to put on our coats and earmuffs. Most of us tend to stop thinking about our sunshine. After all, if it is from head to toe, how much damage will the weak sunshine cause in winter? But when it is cold and cloudy outside, sunshine is also harmful. Dr. Apple Bodemer, an associate professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told Life Science magazine: "Whether you spend a day on a slope, skating on a pond or shoveling snow in the driveway, any exposed part of your body may get sunburned. According to the Bodhisattva, your face is still exposed to solar radiation in the form of ultraviolet rays. She said that when ultraviolet rays penetrate deep into your skin cells, it will cause DNA damage. [Can animals get sunburned? ]

The long-wave ultraviolet A(UVA) of the sun will lead to premature aging, sunspots and wrinkles, while its short-wave ultraviolet B(UVB) is notorious for causing skin redness and burns. (Ultraviolet C or UVC rays are the third or even shorter ultraviolet radiation, which is mainly absorbed by the earth's ozone layer).

The damage of ultraviolet radiation to the skin increases with time. Dr. Darrell riegel, a clinical professor of dermatology at new york University, said, "Your skin is like an instrument in a taxi." When you get more radiation, the scale moves forward. The more times it happens, or the stronger the radiation, the faster the balance moves.

Eventually, skin damage related to ultraviolet rays will lead to skin cancer. This is the most common cancer in America. According to the American Cancer Society, about 3.3 million Americans are diagnosed with basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer every year.

Snow and ice will also make the damage of the sun more serious. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, they can reflect up to 80% of ultraviolet rays that reach the ground. This means that when the light bounces, you will be hit from two angles: the first angle comes from the sky and the second angle comes from the ground. Skiers and snowboarders are more likely to get sunburned because ultraviolet radiation will increase at higher altitudes.

"Our atmosphere helps to disperse some ultraviolet radiation," Bodmer said. When you are at high altitude, there is not so much atmosphere there, and you will be exposed to more intense ultraviolet radiation.

Bodmer said that due to the angle between the sun's rays and the earth, the total amount of ultraviolet rays in winter will be slightly reduced. However, those who are exposed to the sun in winter, especially those who are prone to sunburn in summer, are still at risk of sunburn, she said.

Some creams and drugs, such as retinol products and chemical skin, can also make the skin more sensitive. Riegel told Life Science. Even tetracycline antibiotics, including prescription drugs for acne or colds, will increase your sensitivity to sunlight.

"Generally speaking, the biggest factor that affects the sensitivity of sunlight is how pale your skin is," he said, but the fact is that even the darkest people will be hurt by sunlight. They may not get it so soon because they have more natural protection, but even people with dark skin may get skin cancer.

Fortunately, the way to protect your skin is simple: apply sunscreen every day. Riegel recommends using a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30. If you plan to spend your holiday at high altitude, the sun protection index will be higher. Dr. Steven Wang, director of dermatology at Si Long Memorial Kettering Cancer Center in Muling, New Jersey, told the Skin Cancer Foundation that SPF 30 can block 97% ultraviolet rays according to experience; SPF 50 can block 98% ultraviolet rays; SPF 100 can block 99% ultraviolet rays. Besides, no matter what kind of sunscreen you use, it is important to apply it every two hours, Wang added.

Riegel also suggested looking for sunscreen labeled "broad spectrum"