Do I need to wear sunscreen in the winter?

This is a common question when it’s not summertime.  The short answer is YES.  The bigger part of the question and answer is WHY?

Sunscreen is used to protect the skin from UV rays in sunlight right?  And in WV, we don’t see much sun in the summer. You got me there.  But even on a cloudy day, some UV rays are still detected.  Plus, good sunscreen blocks more than UV rays, it’s blocking harmful HEV blue light and infrared rays as well. 

Let’s just do a quick review of the rays that are harmful to the skin.

Ultraviolet (UV).  UV rays are between 290 and 420nm and consist of UVA, UVB and UVC.  These wavelengths of light are interrupted by a number of chemical and mineral sunscreens.  As always, I recommend zinc oxide and titanium oxide for their superior protection in repelling these harmful rays.

But there’s more to sunscreen than blocking UV rays.  Newer data over the past decade has shown the need to protect against visible blue light and infrared light.

Visible Blue Light. Blue light is between approximately 400nm and 495nm.  It is also sometimes referred to as High Energy Visible (HEV) radiation. While blue light is used therapeutically in limited amounts, chronic exposure of the skin to blue light is not good.  Premature aging and brown spots on the skin are the primary sequela of chronic blue light exposure.  Blue light exposure is primarily from computer screens and phone screens, which many of us have much more exposure to than the sun itself. Some sunscreens, such as those from ZO Skin Health, ISDIN, and Colorescience have specifically been tested to protect against blue light, but most sunscreens with zinc oxide will do a fine job with blue light protection. 

What else can you do to avoid blue light exposure to your skin?  Apple devices can be modified with “night shift”.  And many other devices have a similar setting to reduce blue light exposure.  A blue light screen protector can also be applied to monitors and devices.  To learn more about blue light, see our article below. 

Infrared Light.  You know that warm fire that warms your body in the winter or that rare sunny day where the sun warms your face?  The warmth is from infrared radiation that also is harmful to the skin.  Infrared rays penetrate very deep into the skin, and there is increasing evidence that they cause premature aging as well.   Similar to the list above, ZO Skin Health and Colorescience sunscreens block against infrared rays.

So, if you’re a vain sun-damaged dermatologist who sadly removes skin cancer from patients each day like me, YES! WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN.  If you would like to have less sun damage, less aging, less brown spots, and less skin cancer, wear your sunscreen every single day.  Even if you’re not leaving the house.  Even if it’s cloudy outside.  Wear your sunscreen.  I wear the Colorescience Tint Du Soleil every single day.  It has been my favorite for a few years.   Give daily sunscreen a try.  You’ll thank me in 20 years.  I promise.  

___________________________________________________

If you know someone who may find this article helpful, please share it with them! Follow us on social media this week, and subscribe to our growing YouTube channel! If you would like to receive these posts in your email inbox, Subscribe to our Site.