Yes, it is officially December! And I decided to talk about something in today’s blog post that hasn’t been a major topic for most people and brands since this past summer- Sunscreen! Some people don’t really think about nor talk about wearing sunscreen in the winter and reasonably so. Most of us aren’t outside as much. And as far as brands are concerned, they roll out most of their sun protection products in the summer and not so much during the winter. 

So today, I wanted to talk about why you should still be wearing sunscreen in the winter and the top things you should be looking for when purchasing sunscreen. 

Why sunscreen in the winter?

In the winter, yes, it is true that there’s less daylight hours. On average, we get 10-12 hours of sunlight each day during the summer while only 7-10 hours during the winter. Hopefully that helps you to also realize that we still get a decent amount of sunlight and sun exposure during the winter and year-round. We are subject to the sun’s harmful UV rays year-round and practically every day. 

If you’re outside, you will experience the sun’s UVB rays, also known as Burning rays. UVB rays can cause sunburns and skin damage as a result of being outside and in direct sunlight. These rays are strongest in the summer. If you’re inside a building, you don’t have to worry about UVB rays. 

If you’re inside a building, let’s say your home, you can and most likely will experience the sun’s UVA rays, also known as Aging rays. These rays pass through your windows and cause wrinkles and aging spots. If you’re reading this, my guess is that you probably have windows in your home and sun peeks through those windows during the day, hence the need for sunscreen. UVA rays can pass through clouds, fog, then through your windows and damage your skin on bright and cloudy winter days indoors. They also can do damage during the summer and year-round.

So now that it’s winter and many of us are at home a lot because of COVID, it’s very likely that most of us are exposed to UVA rays at some point every day whether that be at home, at work, at stores, or any other buildings with windows. All in all, consistent sun exposure to UVA and/or UVB rays can increase your risk for skin damage, premature aging, and skin cancer. 

What sunscreen should you buy?

When shopping for sunscreen, there’s plenty of options and brands, but there’s a few features that you for sure want your sunscreen to have. 

• Broad spectrum protection. This means that the sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays. If it isn’t labeled as broad spectrum, it’s very possible that it only protects from UVB (Burning) rays. 
• SPF 30 or higher. This is the standard that the American Academy of Dermatology Association (aka the skin doctors) and many other medical organizations have set. SPF 30 equates to 97% of UVB rays being blocked. A higher SPF will block slightly more than 97%. If it’s not 30+, I’m not buying it, and I wouldn’t suggest you to either. If you’re using a lower SPF, you probably should apply it more frequently. 
• Water resistant. This ensures that the sunscreen still works while swimming, sweating, or any other water contact. 

I hope you found this post informative and helpful! Feel free to comment below if you have any questions! 

Xoxo, 

Margaret Nicole  

This information was gathered primarily from the American Academy of Dermatology Association. To learn more, feel free to check out their website.