Most people don’t consider the importance of keeping their skin safe in colder months. However, lower temperatures and cloudier days don’t give you a free pass on guarding your skin. 

Twenty percent of Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives, making it the most common form of cancer in the nation. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun cause nearly 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and more than 85 percent of melanomas (The Skin Cancer Foundation). Fortunately, skin cancer is the most preventable of all cancers (Prevent Cancer Foundation).

It’s important to protect your skin from the sun no matter the season, because UV rays stick around all year long. This is especially true in higher altitudes where UV rays are more intense. There is also a better chance for snow, which reflects up to 80 percent of UV rays from the sun (MD Anderson Cancer Center). Skin also needs protection on cloudy days since “up to 80 percent of the sun’s rays can penetrate clouds” (The Skin Cancer Foundation).

The most important way to protect your skin in any type of weather is wearing sunscreen. Choose sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15 or higher with broad-spectrum protection and apply 15 minutes before sun exposure. It’s also important to wear lip balm with an SPF rating of 15 or higher since lips are very sensitive. Reapply sunscreen and lip balm often.

Dressing appropriately for the day is another important step in guarding your skin. Wearing a hat with a brim that goes all the way around, wrap-around sunglasses with 99-100 percent UV absorption and clothing made from tightly woven fabric all offer additional protection from the sun’s rays.

For more tips on how to protect your skin in colder weather, visit The Skin Cancer Foundation.