When we think of wearing sunscreen, we often picture ourselves out by the beach or the pool, ready for the sun’s scorching heat. But no matter where you may find yourself in the world, the sun and its rays are a steady presence shining down upon you.
This means that rain, shine, or snow — skin protection is an everyday must.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, everyone, regardless of age, gender, or race, should be wearing sunscreen every day to help prevent skin cancer.
If you’re curious about how to guard yourself when out in the sun or the snow, here are a few pointers to keep in mind when getting ready to face any type of weather.
The Similarities Between Snow and Sand
Snow, sand, and water all play a crucial role in skin protection. Because these can amplify the effect of the sun’s UV rays, it is important to factor them into your skin protection regimen.
Snow itself has been reported to reflect more UV radiation than water, meaning that exposed skin, even in colder winter climates, is at risk of sunburn.
How Does Snow Cause Sunburn?
Even in cold temperatures, the skin is at high risk of sunburn due to direct contact with the sun’s rays. This is because heat itself is not the cause of sunburn, but rather UV radiation from the sun’s rays.
Exposure to this radiation is especially risky in high mountainous areas that attract winter sports enthusiasts.
Compared to beaches, which are at sea level, snowy mountainous areas are more hazardous to the skin because of a thinner atmosphere that is weaker at filtering out UV rays. On top of that, the presence of snow can reflect UV radiation by up to 90 percent, further amplifying these rays’ damage on your epidermis.
How Sunburn Affects Your Skin Over Time
At first glance, sunburn is a painful nuisance that can turn any holiday into a living hell. Over time, however, repeated unprotected sun exposure can have stronger, more worrisome lasting effects on the epidermis that go beyond just irritation and discomfort.
Prolonged exposure to UV radiation eventually creates dangerous mutations in the DNA of skin cells, leaving them vulnerable to wrinkling, premature aging, and even skin cancer.
These are risks that must be kept in mind when gearing up for any outdoor adventure, whether it is a hike, a swim, or even a trip to the store.
How to Treat a Sunburn
As one of the most common risks of sun exposure, it is essential to know how to treat skin that’s been irritated from a sunburn. Here a few tips on how to handle sunburned skin and get it on its way to healing.
1. Soothe the Skin: It is called a sunburn not only because of its burned effect on the skin but because of the painful sensation it elicits when touching the affected areas. Treat your skin with a cooling lotion or ointment made with oatmeal, menthol, or aloe vera to ease the sting and help peeled skin regenerate.
2. Stay Hydrated: Because sun damage dries up and damages your skin, it is extra important to keep yourself hydrated when you are sunburned. Drink lots of fluids to quench not only your thirst but your skin, which will need the extra boost in its time of healing.
3. Let Your Skin Heal: Allow your skin to adequately restore by avoiding further exposure to the sun and wearing loose-fitted, comfortable clothes made with breathable fabrics like cotton.
Using Beauty Products to Help Repair Skin
As the largest organ in your body, the skin requires tailored, delicate care. Neglected skin is prone to disease. After all, skin diseases are some of the most common, affecting 900 million people in the world at any time.
Ultimately, a thoughtfully curated skincare routine is the best way to treat your skin and protect it from further damage.
Though there is an endless assortment of beauty products from which to choose, there a few essentials to consider when selecting your staple everyday skin products.
1. Cleanser
Choose a cleanser that will suit your specific skin type — be it oily, dry or a combination of the two — and target whatever issues you may have with your skin, like acne, wrinkles, or sensitivity.
Oiler skin can benefit from a gel cleanser made with salicylic to target oil control, while drier skin should opt for a richer, creamier, and more soothing formulation.
2. Moisturizer
After washing your skin, it is important to lock in some moisture to it with a hydration lotion.
Gold Mountain Beauty offers a selection of hydrating lotions and oil that are vegan, cruelty-free, and made with organic ingredients. The Original + Drying Lotion, which is perfect for acne-prone skin, uses ingredients like salicylic acid to reduce the appearance of acne and acne scarring.
Their Fresh Rose Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid & Diamond Dust, is ideal for drier, more mature skin. Hyaluronic acid gives the skin a boost of hydration, leaving it plump and succulent, filling any fine lines and wrinkles.
The Organic Rosehip Oil and Gold Dust Elixir is a luminous oil that adds a healthy glow to dull, dry skin. For the treatment of damaged skin, the rich Skin Lightening Cream with Collagen is perfect for an evening out, reducing the appearance of dark sunspots caused by prolonged sun damage.
3. Sunscreen
After moisturizing the skin, it is time to add a much-needed layer of sunscreen. When choosing a skin protection cream, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests you buy one that is broad-spectrum and that packs at least 30 SPF.
Because many conventional skin-protecting ointments are water-soluble, it is important to add an extra layer of protection by choosing a water-resistant sunscreen. This will protect it from water and even sweat, prolonging its effect.
You are well-versed in how to best protect your skin from UV rays through a careful skin care regimen, and can safely gear yourself for any occasion and maintain healthy, youthful, and sun-shielded skin.
