iVillage logo
Beauty & Fashion 
Advertisement
Topics
iVillage shopping

Hot stuff
Newsletters
sign up for FREE!




 
Promotions

Winter Sun Protection

by Dr Barbara Reed

question
How do I protect my skin from the sun when I'm exposed to the winter wind?

answer

In winter, the humidity inside houses, offices and schools is low because of heating systems. Forced-air heating is probably the most drying (radiator heat is a little less so). When skin is dry and itchy, winter itch can occur - especially in the elderly because their skin produces less oil.

And it's even worse for those of us who enjoy outdoor activities in snowy climates - there's the problem of increased exposure to ultraviolet rays.

For every 1,000 feet of elevation, ultraviolet exposure increases by about 2 percent. And snow reflects about 80 per cent of the ultraviolet light, compounding the problem.

Those who are indoors often think that they don't need sunscreen. In fact, it is important for people to wear sunscreen all year long. Even if you are indoors, ultraviolet exposure can occur through car windows and cause skin problems over the years. Many people have extra sun damage on the left side of the face because of sun exposure through the car window.

If you are outside, be sure to apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before sun exposure to ensure that it absorbs into the skin. Reapply every two hours.

Keep a lip balm or protector of SPF 15 or higher, and re-use it every half hour.

Why not chat to other iVillagers about cosmetic products on the Skin Care message board. Take a look at some of the LIVE discussions happening now on the board:

iVillage TV - Beauty demos

View video in larger player
Delicious     Digg     reddit     Facebook     StumbleUpon