Skin cancer prevention is a common topic discussed in the summer months when the sun’s rays are strongest and people are often showing more skin outdoors. However, just because you may not see the sun as much in the winter does not mean you are safe from the harmful impact of UV radiation.
Taking the steps to protect yourself is preferable to going through skin cancer treatment later on. While there are many cancer treatment options such as chemotherapy treatment or cancer radiation treatment, if you can decrease your need for this with the use of prevention methods it is best to do so.
Even though people are more likely to be wearing a greater amount of layers in the colder weather, there are still parts of your skin that will visible and therefore at risk of sun exposure. Here are a few helpful tips to protect your skin and hopefully avoid the need for skin cancer treatment in the future.
Don’t Forget the Sunscreen
It is important to use sunscreen all year round to protect your skin. While you may not think about applying SPF before going out in the snow, it is important to do so as the sun can reflect off of the snowy ground and hit you with its dangerous rays.
Protecting your lips is also important before you head out, and it is often an area that people forget to apply sunscreen to. Buying a lip balm that has an SPF will help keep your lips moisturized and protected from the sun in one easy step. It is also important to take the time to re apply your sunscreen to ensure full protection.
Use Your Winter Accessories to Protect Your Skin
Many people add cold weather accessories such as hats, scarves, and gloves to stay warm in the winter. What you may not realize is that these items can double as protection from the sun.
Adding a hat with a wide brim can help protect the top of your head, your ears, and your neck. If beanies are more you style, keep your neck safe from the sun by adding a scarf along with your hat. Gloves are also a great winter accessory that helps keep your hands warm as well as protected from UV rays.
Take Breaks from Your Outdoor Time
Taking a break from spending time outdoors in the winter is important for both skin cancer prevention as well as protecting yourself from other possible threats that the cold weather brings. While you may be tempted to make the most out of the winter weather, it is important that you give your body time to warm up.
Going inside and enjoying a warm drink is a great way to allow your body to warm up and it gives your skin a break from the sun. Because of this, it is important to keep track of how much time you are spending outdoors and to take breaks accordingly.
If you do notice something unusual with your health, seek out the emergency care services near you. If you do find that you are in need of skin cancer treatment, they may be able to help you get in touch with a cancer specialist that can help you with any possible skin cancer treatment that you need.
