Bright Idea – Protect Yourself From the Winter Sun

Whether the winter weather outdoors is frightful or delightful, you don’t have to be sitting on a beach to feel the effects of the sun. If you are lucky enough to be outside enjoying winter sports or other activities, you should still be aware of the need to protect yourself from the sun’s UV radiation.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime and the EPA estimates that one American dies every hour from this disease. While exposure can not always be avoided, steps can be taken to limit your risk of health damage.

Prevention

Although you may be bundled up against the cold, apply sunscreen liberally to your exposed skin, about 20 minutes before exposure, making sure to get to overlooked areas like the edges of your ears or the back of your neck. Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, which filters out both UVA and UVB radiation. For an average adult, the recommended dose is one ounce per application. Reapply every two hours when possible.

Using sunscreen does not mean it is safe to spend more time in the sun if the UV index is high. A high SPF may protect you from sunburn, but it will not block all of the sun’s damaging rays.

Inspection

To help recognize potential problems, the American Cancer Society strongly suggests you conduct periodic self-examinations and make sure you watch for growths that meet one of the following 'ABCDs' of melanoma:

• Asymmetry: One half of the growth doesn't match the other half.
• Border irregularity: The edges of the growth are ragged, notched, or blurred.
• Color: The pigmentation of the growth is not uniform. Shades of tan, brown, and black are present. Dashes of red, white, and blue also may appear.
• Diameter: Any growth greater than six millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser) is cause for concern.

Skin cancers may not cause any other symptoms until they grow – then they may bleed or even cause pain.

Vision

Did you know your eyes can get sunburned too?

Excessive exposure to UV radiation can burn the front surface of the eye and your eyelids as well as the surrounding skin. This type of sunburn can be very painful and can also temporarily damage vision. "Snow-blindness" is an example of the effects of exposure to reflected UV rays off of snow.

Long-term exposure to UV radiation can damage the eye’s surface tissues and internal structures. This can lead to cataracts, non-cancerous growths or skin cancer around the eyelids.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests you choose your sunglasses or other eye protection using the following guidelines:

• Select sunglasses that block ultraviolet rays – the ability to block UV light is not dependent on the darkness of the lens or the price tag. 
• Make sure your sunglasses block 99 percent or 100 percent of UVA rays and UVB rays.
• Sunglasses should wrap all the way around to your temples so the sun’s rays can’t enter from the side.

Find more healthy tips and resources in TriWest’s Healthy Living Portal.