Sun Care Tips for Outdoor Activities This Winter

While most of us put sunburn and sun care together with summer, the winter is also a time to look after your skin—especially if you’re a fan of outdoor activities like skiing or snowboarding. The higher altitude and UV rays mean you or your little ones are at risk of sun damage. We’ve written about how important sun care is before, but this time we’re going to talk about being safe in the sun while taking part in outdoor activities.

If you are going skiing or snowboarding, for example, you’re going to be at higher altitudes. Every 1000 feet higher you travel, the more UV radiation exposure increases. UV is damaging to your skin, causing sunburn, early aging, and sometimes skin cancer. If you’re on top of a ski slope with your other half and little ones, UV radiation could be as high as 45% more than when you were on the ground! Snow also reflects UV light from the sun, so you’re even more at risk!

While this all sounds very scary and dangerous, it’s easy to keep yourself safe by following our tips.

• Apply a sun cream with an SPF of 30 or higher if you’re going outside for a couple of hours. Always put it on 30 minutes before you head out. Even if your little one gives out about sun cream, insist they wear it and top it up every few hours. The same goes for Mam and Dad too: reapply sun cream to your face every couple of hours even if the sun is behind the clouds.
• Be very careful around your eyes and ears as people tend to miss out these spots, as well as the chin and on the neck. If your little one is wiggly, make sure they hold still and reward them with praise for being so good!
• Look out for moisturising sun cream. Lanolin is great. We highly recommend lanolin here at Sand Dollar Swim. Winter conditions are very tough on your skin and hair, so be careful to keep your skin moisturised so it feels fresh and looks gorgeous.
• Bring lip balm on the slopes with you. Make sure your lip balm is SPF 15 or higher to make sure your lips are kept safe. The skin around your lips is very sensitive so make sure to cover them well.
• Cover up! Wear a hat or ski masks and goggles to leave as little skin exposed to the wind and sun. Going down the ski slopes really fast can lead to really sore wind burn, so covering your face quickly sorts the problem. If you don’t like goggles, wraparound sunglasses are great for protecting your eyes and the sensitive skin around that area.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration. Take breaks for a breather and to rehydrate.
• If you can, start or in the morning or later into the day. 10AM until 4PM is when the sun is strongest. Noon is a great time to take a break and have lunch and something to drink.

Be sure to follow our tips to keep safe on your winter holiday. Let us know if you’re going skiing or snowboarding with your kids on Facebook and Twitter! If you’re going somewhere warm, check out our chic UV swimwear that’ll keep your little one too cool to burn!