During the winter months, many people are more concerned with protecting their skin from the effects of the wind and cold weather than from the sun. But protecting skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation (UV rays) is a must all year-round. UV rays cause skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the United States—and they do not stop causing damage when the weather turns cold.
UV radiation is also reflected or scattered by different surfaces. Snow, for example, can reflect as much as 80 percent of UV radiation and UV levels increase significantly as altitude increases. Winter sports such as skiing can present UV exposure as intense as a day at the beach.
People taking winter cruises or tropical vacations should also use caution. Sand may reflect as much as 15 percent of UV rays and sea foam as much as 25 percent. While the sun may not climb as high during the winter months, UV levels are still strong during midday and the sun's intensity is highest near the equator.
Winter trips to tanning booths cause exposure to UV rays just as the sun does. In fact, a study by the National Cancer Institute found that using tanning booths more than once a month can increase the risk of getting skin cancer by 150 percent.
"Skin cancer, especially melanoma, can be deadly," said Lily Lai, M.D., skin cancer expert at City of Hope Cancer Center in Los Angeles. "Fortunately, skin cancers are preventable and highly curable if found and treated early."
Several risk factors increase the chance of skin cancer, but everyone is at risk of developing the disease. Some of these risk factors include: having fair skin that freckles easily; living in warm climates with increased sun exposure and/or high altitudes; occupational exposure, such as working outdoors; overall lifetime exposure to the sun; and having many moles.
Tips to protect your skin from harmful UV rays all year-round:
• Avoid exposure to midday sun, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., when UV rays are most dangerous.
• Use sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of 15 or higher whenever you spend time outdoors. Remember to reapply sunscreen every 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Wear protective clothing such as hats and long-sleeved shirts that block the sun's rays.
• Protect young children from the sun's rays. The damaging effects of UV radiation can begin in childhood.
• Be careful when taking certain medications that may cause the skin to burn more easily. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to determine if your medication could be a problem.
• Avoid sun lamps and tanning booths.
"Having a tan, natural or artificial, is a sign that the skin has already been damaged," said Dr. Lai. "Since tanning booths expose you to ultraviolet rays just as the sun does, using a sunless tanning lotion is the best way to add color without damaging your skin."
For more information about skin cancer research and treatment at City of Hope, call 800-826-HOPE or visit www.cityofhope.org.
