We might be moving into the cooler months, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still be very careful indeed about the sun and your skin.
We hear so much about summer sun safety, we know to slap on that high factor sun cream and we know to wear a hat, but do you carry on with this advice when Autumn and Winter comes?
Most people only think about what the sun might do to their skin during the summer months, but the fact remains that when the sun is out, and even when it’s cloudy, there are harmful rays that are focusing themselves towards you. Premature aging, the risk of skin cancer, sunburn, these are all very real issues that can happen whether it is Summer, Winter, Autumn, or Spring.
Look at it this way, there’s a reason why ski resorts still post a huge sunburn risk! It doesn’t have to be beach weather to get sunburn.
As a general rule, you should always do the following, regardless of what month it is:
- Wear high factor suncream
- Wear a hat if the sun feels strong on your head, and if you’re out in it for a long period of time
- Top up your suncream if you’ve been in the water
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes if you’re out for long periods of time, especially if you’re skiing or heading into snowy weather
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid the peak sun hours during the warmer days, e.g. the middle of the day to mid-afternoon
This might seem like common sense, but you’d be amazed how many people drop all thoughts of sun safety once Summer has officially passed.
Many years ago, we didn’t have the same amount of information available about what the sun can do to your skin, but these days we’re more aware than ever before about the risk of sun cancers (melanoma) from strong and harmful UVA and UVB rays. We used to send the kids out to play during the Summer months and never thought about suncream – big mistake! These days we are thankfully more aware and focused on sun safety, but always remember that it doesn’t need to be the middle of a baking hot summer to practice it.
Did you know that the sun can make you look older? It really can. Yes, a good amount of sun on your skin is great for your mood and boosts vitamin production, but if you have too much sun exposure, especially without suncream (yes, on your face too) then you’re running the risk of looking considerably older, well ahead of time. Your skin will take on a dry, leathery look, and you’ll have a much higher chance of developing lines and wrinkles – all that squinting towards the sun doesn’t do your youthful appearance much good!
So, as we move towards the cooler months, don’t let sun safety slip out of your mind.
