Why Some Say To Wear Sunscreen in Winter (And Some Surprising Secondary Benefits to Your SPF)

A long time ago, I did a little series on La Petite Rose dedicated to sunscreen, reviewing some sunscreens, providing general information, and also giving my views on some sunscreen-related myths and questions. One question, I have yet to report on is, though, should I continue to wear sunscreen in the Winter? The answer in short, is yes, but not always for the reasons you might think.

During winter, we actually receive the sun's light more directly in the hours and days that are sunny than in spring or summer. This may seem strange since the days are shorter in winter, and we don't typically associate sunshine with winter and many places often have more overcast days in winter than they do sunny ones. But colder air temperatures thin the atmosphere and ozone layer, making the barrier between the sun and the Earth more permeable. Also, if you live in a location that gets a lot of snow, the sun's rays reflect brightly of the snow back up onto our skin, again, causing a propensity for burns. On the flipside, however, if you are in colder, clearer weather it might be easier to get a full or more ample dose of Vitamin D from sunlight in less amount of time by simple just exposing your bare face to the sun. You can read more about Vitamin D absorption through sunlight in my article here

That being said, it is important to keep in mind that our skin in general becomes more sensitized during winter. Colder temperatures coupled with dry indoor heating and the increased likelihood of being sick as well as the hustle and bustle of the Holiday season all make for situations where our skin is drier, more dehydrated, and also more prone to irritation. Because of this and, ironically, the fact that we typically don't spend as much time outdoors and wear clothing that exposes us to much sunlight, our skin is made both more susceptible to being burned and slower to heal from it. This vulnerability can also increase our chances of developing more permanent and later-showing effects of sun damage like age spots and deeper wrinkles than those we might have developed otherwise

Still. most skin specialists do agree that most people can get away with wearing a lighter SPF product without as much protection in winter months than they do in summer because we are less likely to be outside for as long of a time and we are also not apt to sweat as much, making the SPF protection less likely to wear down as quickly. Also, some experts do encourage wearing lighterweight SPFs so as to allow the skin to absorb the Vitamin D we need but need most especially in the colder months to help keep our immune system strong and to relieve things like chills and bodyaches and joint pain if we do get sick or if we have chronic conditions such as arthritis.

A final point about making sure you continue to wear SPF in winter applies not just to the winter itself but year-round-- SPF products often provides much more to the health of our skin than protection from sunlight.

Recently, science has shown that we may be incurring more UV damage from the blue lights from the screens on our phones and computers that prematurely age our face in a similar manner to UVA rays from the sun, but may be even more acute due to our general proximity of our faces to our screens and the amount of time we are in front of them. Additionally,, many SPF products, especially those found from eco- beauty brands, often contain Vitamin C or other forms of antioxidant ingredients that help to heal and fortify the skin barrier. Also, sunscreens both natural and more chemical-based often contain some anti-inflammatory ingredients, particularly zinc and zinc oxide. These ingredients especially not only provide an additional layer between your skin and the outside world's environmental pollutants or allergens, they also help to curb and heal the look and feel of redness or itchiness to the skin brought on by encountering these things, especially for the most reactive- or sensitive-skinned.

Continuing the healthful balance of skin's exposure to the sun and guarding it from lasting damage and vulnerability is a year-round thing. And there are, therefore, many benefits to having a light, protective veil of sunscreen on your face, even during the darkest depths of winter.