Winter has arrived and, with it, dry weather and low temperatures. Therefore, care must be taken to avoid drying out the skin and mucous membranes. This includes using sunscreen, even on the coldest and cloudiest days.
According to the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD), ultraviolet radiation (UV) can pass through clouds and remains the same on cold days. Exposure to sunlight can cause various changes to the skin, such as the appearance of moles, freckles, spots and wrinkles, and is related to several types of skin cancer.
“We need to use sunscreen every day of the year, no matter the temperature”, says dermatologist Mariana Penha, member of SBD and the Brazilian Society of Dermatological Surgery, to CNN . “In winter, the incidence of ultraviolet radiation continues to exist, so we need to continue protecting ourselves as normal,” he emphasizes.
SBD recommends that, during winter, you continue to use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) above 30 and that you wear long-sleeved clothing or pants, and accessories such as a hat, cap and sunglasses.
How to use sunscreen correctly in winter?
According to Penha, sun protection care in winter should be the same as in summer. “It is important to maintain the sun protection factor (SPF) recommended for your skin type throughout the year. Generally, people with lighter skin use a higher SPF, while people with darker skin use a lower one. But this is important regardless of the time of year”, advises the dermatologist.
Correct application of sunscreen is also an important point. According to the expert, the ideal amount of sunscreen to be applied to the face is one teaspoon.
“This rule is not that practical, so a tip is to use the three-finger ‘rule’: put a little protector on the index, middle and ring fingers. This is enough for the entire face,” she says. In the case of people who use colored protector, the dermatologist’s tip is to use the proportion of one finger with neutral protector and two fingers with colored protector.
Another important point is the ideal time to apply sunscreen before leaving home. In the case of chemical protectors, which correspond to most options available on the market and in pharmacies, ideally they should be applied 15 minutes in advance. “In this type of filter, the radiation is absorbed by the skin and can be transformed so as not to damage the skin. Therefore, this interval is essential for its optimal functioning”, he explains. In the case of physical protectors, which work by reflecting incident radiation, use can be immediate.
In winter, should sunscreen be reapplied?
According to SBD guidelines, sunscreen should be reapplied every two or three hours, especially if there is a lot of sweating or prolonged sun exposure. “This is the ideal world, but I know that, in practice, it can be difficult to follow,” says Penha. “My tip is to apply it at least twice a day: once in the morning and once at lunchtime”, he adds.
In cases of those suffering from a skin disease, such as melasma, reapplication every three hours must be done with more rigor and discipline.
Source: CNN Brasil
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