Certain populations, like seasoned outdoor sports fans, are likely well aware of the need to wear sunscreen in winter. After all, developing burns and chapped skin after a day on the slopes is an experience most people don’t easily forget.
But a 2024 survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) found that nearly one in five Americans don’t know that you can get sunburned in the winter. The survey went on to note that even those who are aware of the risk aren’t using sunscreen properly during the colder months and that only six percent protect their skin while working out or playing sports in the winter.
According to dermatologists, this is cause for concern. “Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is present year-round, so proper winter sun protection is very important,” says Dr. Eva Rawlings Parker assistant professor of dermatology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Excessive UV radiation exposure is linked with a higher risk of developing skin cancer, along with premature skin aging and even suppression of your immune system, raising your risk of getting infections.
If you make…
