Most people don’t need to think twice about liberally applying a sunscreen during the summer or when holidaying abroad, although when the bitterly cold long winter sets in, applying sunscreen is the last thing on many a mind.
The thing is though, whilst temperatures might be veering more towards freezing than scorching outside, this doesn’t mean that the sun can’t do any damage. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, as the sun’s rays could be quietly damaging skin without you even knowing it.
When temperatures are high, and if you’re unlucky enough to succumb to sunburn, the damage which the sun has done will be very visible. When the weather is colder though and skin isn’t protected, the sun could silently be having a very negative impact on skin.
This is why every single person out there needs to get into the habit of protecting the skin from the sun’s harmful rays whatever the weather.
There are many moisturisers and cosmetics out there which contain SPF, and of course there are also many standard sun blocks out there. Have a look at our site for more info and products www.pureandgentle.com
Lisa
I have always had hyper-sensitive skin, particularly on my face, resulting in areas of itchy, dry eczema which now has been diagnosed as Rosacea along with the eczema. Also a close family member was diagnosed with a Maligant Melanoma skin cancer in 2007 forcing the whole family to become more aware of the effects the sun can have on our skin and how chemotherapy and other cancer treatments has such an effect on your skin too. I have subsequently spent time investigating the sun screen market to not only provide the right protection, but won’t cause skin irritation along with moisturisers and other products for after and during cancer treatment. I am not a medic; I am a mum with many years’ experience of having to deal with skin problems and www.pureandgentle.com was started because of this to find non- irritant products, research and information all in one place. I have found small tricks that can help along the way which I can share with you and hopefully relieve some of your problems with your skin.
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Good advice – we’re running a skin cancer & sun safety clinic with NHS Choices 16-22 May 2012 – would be good if you join in and ask questions based around this very part of staying safe in the sun.
on January 31, 2012 at 11:14 am Deborah MasonBad advice sorry
You could lie outside stark naked all day in winter in the UK and you won’t get the teensiest tan.
Which is bad news because vitamin D deprivation does serious harm to far many more people than those who have melanomas, and in any case many melanomas arise in places which aren’t normally exposed to the sun (eg between the toes).
It’s a different story skiing in the mountains where you might indeed get sunburn unless you are protected. Do read up un sunscreens though, some have ingredients which might do more harm than good.
on January 31, 2012 at 7:54 pm Steve HayesThank you for your comment Steve, I am not saying that you shouldn’t go outside and that you shouldn’t exposure yourself to the sun rays, vitamin D is very important to the body and I realise this. The damage in the winter on your skin is not noticible like getting a tan but extreme exposure like sking or people that are gardeners or builders etc a little precautions can help. A lot of moisturisers for the face have spf in them it is only usually 15 spf which isn’t going to block out the sun rays. Many suncreams are full of chemicals but there are some on the market that are not. Melanomas can appear anywhere especially on face and hands. It can effect the toes as we do not put enough protection on these areas or it gets rubbed off easily.
on February 1, 2012 at 11:43 am Lisa Clunie