Do I really need sunscreen in Winter?

It may sound crazy to most people, but sunscreen in winter is not only recommended, it is necessary! By simple logic, since the sky is cloudy and the sun is hidden, we should be safer from the sun, right? Well, not really.

Wrong, says Carly Roman, a dermatologist at MD in Seattle. “Most people want to ease up on sunscreen use during the winter, as the sun feels weaker and they are less likely to burn.” But that's a mistake. Roman notes that only one of the two UV perpetrators, UVB, is actually lessened by clouds and winter. The other, UVA, is very much present year-round.

The winter months are a terrible mix of cold weather, wind, and indoor heat, dryness and itchiness. These conditions hit deeper into the skin and leave it dull and dry, thereby more exposed to sun damage, increasing the risk for skin cancers, age spots, fine lines and more.

Sun protection during the winter does not only work on protecting your skin from UV radiation, it actually slows down the skins' ageing process. Whether you use an SPF 30 sunscreen or an SPF 50 sunscreen (although there isn't really much of a difference), apply sunscreen in winter and reap the benefits in the long run! 

"The winter sun can reflect off the snow, particularly at high altitudes," says Amy Derick, MD, a private-practice dermatologist based in Barrington, Illinois, and frequent guest expert on NBC News, The View, and CNN.com. Always apply sunscreen to exposed areas of skin, including the face, tops of ears, and backs of hands, and use a lip balm to prevent chapping.

Make sure your sunscreen contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These are common ingredients in natural sunscreens that protect you from sun exposure during both sunny days and the cold, winter months.

Explore the most natural range of sunscreens on Sunshine On The Go and choose nothing less than the best for yourself!