Posted on

Sun protection in Winter

Sun protection in winter? đźŚž

Winter brings short days and little sunlight. But in the mountains, when doing winter sports, and on long-distance trips, sunlight, or more precisely UV radiation, should not be underestimated. Here you can find out when and why you should protect your skin and eyes from too much UV radiation, even in winter.

UV protection in the mountains

In winter in the mountains, it is good to know that UV radiation increases by approximately 10 percent per 1,000 meters of altitude. Fresh snow reflects up to 90 percent of UV radiation, thereby intensifying it. Taken together, this means that on sunny days, UV exposure in the mountains can be so high even in the winter months that it can cause lasting damage to the skin and eyes.

Many people underestimate how strong UV exposure is at high altitudes and due to snow reflection. Sunbathing at a mountain hut and long outdoor activities can cause serious damage to your eyes and skin, even in winter. Experienced mountaineers and skiers know that protecting your skin and eyes is essential, even in winter. To prevent damage, you should protect exposed skin and lips with a broad-spectrum sunscreen (protection against UVA and UVB radiation) with a high to very high sun protection factor. For the eyes, sunglasses that cover the entire eye area with UV400 protection, UV400 ski goggles, or so-called glacier goggles with UV400 protection are essential.

Is a tanning bed the best option in winter?

Some people may think of tanning beds as a substitute for the lack of light and warmth during the cold season, especially since advertisements claim that they can also provide vitamin D. But this is not the right approach. This is because the UV radiation in tanning beds is usually as strong as the sun at the equator in summer at midday when the sun is at its highest.

The artificial UV radiation in solariums, like the natural UV radiation from the sun, is carcinogenic and can cause serious skin and eye diseases. These negative consequences always occur at the same time as the body’s own vitamin D production is stimulated. They far outweigh the benefits of UV-initiated vitamin D production. For this reason, the use of solariums is strongly discouraged internationally.

That’s why you should use the Sola app for optimal support.

The Sola app protects you from unwanted sunburn during all sporting activities in the mountains with its innovative timer.

Ideal for skiers â›·ď¸Ź , hikers, and people who simply enjoy a great winter with snow. â›„️ 

Posted on

Why the sun is more intense in the mountains

Altitude, cloud cover and the ozone layer also play a role: UV rays have a shorter path in the mountains and the air is thinner. This increases their intensity by around 10 percent per 1,000 meters of altitude.

When it is very cloudy, UV radiation is reduced by up to 90 percent. However, a thin cloud cover hardly keeps it out. On the contrary: certain cloud formations and fog can even increase it through scattering.

If the ozone layer is weakened – for example due to low ozone events in spring and early summer – an unusually high amount of UV-B rays reach the earth’s surface.

In addition, water, sand and snow intensify the radiation by reflecting it.

Shade, on the other hand, reduces UV exposure: under a sunshade, for example, by around 10 to 30 percent, under a large tree with a dense canopy by around 20 percent.

The lighter the skin, the less it can protect itself against sunlight and the more sensitive it reacts. Skin that contains a lot of melanin and is therefore darker is better protected, but skin damage cannot be ruled out here either.

Children and adolescents need special protection as they are much more sensitive to UV rays than adults.

Experts recommend that infants and small children under the age of two should not be exposed to the sun at all with uncovered skin.