How to Stay Sun Protected When Skiing?

Introduction

Did you know that the alps has one of the highest UV (Ultra Violet radiation) indexes in the whole of Europe? How can that be – it’s so cold! This is a common misconception that the temperature determines the UV intensity. Instead, the UV intensity is determined by factors such as:

• Ozone layer thickness
• Cloud cover
• Angle of the earth relative to the sun
• Altitude

At higher altitudes, the atmosphere has less natural protection against UV rays: air molecules, ozone, aerosols, and clouds. To add to this, whilst you are skiing, the snow reflects up to 80% of the UV rays onto you! As a general rule, we can say that with every 1000 metres increase in altitude, the UV intensity increases by about 10-12%.

To understand why the UV intensity matters, research has shown that getting sunburnt 5 times will more than double your risk of getting skin cancer (the most prevalent cancer in the world). Every bit of UV radiation exposure you receive will increase your risk of skin cancer. This is why it is key to understand that the UV rays in the winter, especially at elevation, do not necessarily get less intense, and you should use UV protection whilst skiing. But don’t worry, we will cover all the precautions you need to know about to be sun protected in the mountains.

Wear UPF50+ Clothing for Maximum Protection

While seeking shade is the best protection, that’s not always an option while skiing. So, the next best option is to ensure you’re wearing proper protection. By proper protection we mean clothing rated UPF50+ (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) which means that the clothing prevents 98% of the UV rays from penetrating the material.

In reality, you don’t need specific sun protective ski gear since your salopettes, boots and ski jacket will very likely be rated UPF50+ and will provide you with excellent protection whilst you are skiing – though it is worth checking the UPF rating. The problem lies when people leave their neck and face largely exposed to the sun. Walking around the ski resorts you often see bright red faces because the neck and face are very often the areas that get sun burnt. An excellent solution would be to get a UPF50+ neck gaiter (snood) which provides you with added warmth and sun protection to your neck and partially your face.

Don’t Forget Sun Cream and Lip Balm

The neck gaiter can’t cover your whole face, and this is why sun cream is so important! Get yourself a broad spectrum, blocking both UVA and UVB rays, sun cream with an SPF rating of at least 30+ (blocks at least 97% of the UV rays). If you are looking for almost complete protection then get yourself an SPF 100 sun cream that will block 99% of UV rays; we particularly like the Heliocare SPF 100 sun cream. Sun cream is particularly versatile and easy to carry so make sure to keep some on you throughout the day. Most sun creams will need to be re-applied at least every 2 hours, especially whilst skiing.

Going to après? Having lunch out on the mountain? Ensure to apply some sun cream before as it doesn’t take long for the sun to do its damage. After you have applied sun cream, make sure to apply an SPF 30+ lip balm to keep your lips moisturised and protected.

Don’t forget your sun cream or lip balm – it’s not just skin cancer you will avoid but also ageing! The heightened intensity of UV radiation will accelerate your skins ageing process, so don’t leave your face exposed – cover up with sun cream.

Use UV-Protective Eyewear

By now I am sure you have realised that the snowy mountains are a cascade of UV rays in every direction; UV rays beaming down from the sun and slicing across from the snow’s reflection. It is therefore important to consider your eyes since they are just as susceptible to UV damage as the skin, and prolonged UV exposure can lead to serious eye conditions such as photokeratitis, cataracts and muscular degeneration.

There’s never an excuse to not be wearing UV-protective goggles when skiing. Even on overcast days, since clouds only partially block UV rays, UV-protective goggles should be worn. The consequences of prolonged UV exposure to the eyes are too severe to not wear UV-protective eyewear.

Fortunately, many skiers already wear goggles, but it’s crucial to ensure they provide proper UV protection. To make sure you get the best protection from your ski goggles, ensure:

• You purchased the goggles from a reputable seller – illegitimate goggles may not have the UV protectiveness they state!
• Everyone in your family is always wearing them whilst skiing
• The goggles are labelled 100% UV protection or UV400, which blocks both UVA and UVB rays
• They have wide coverage through a wraparound design that will prevent UV rays from entering from the side

Understandably you may not want to wear your ski goggles at lunch or après, so bring along a good pair of sunglasses.

Hydrate and Moisturize Regularly

Did you know that the cold air dehydrates your skin? Did you know that dehydrated skin is more susceptible to sun burn? The answer is yes, to both questions.

The cold air dries out your skin, stripping it of natural moisture and oils. As a result, your skin’s protective barrier is weakened, making you more susceptible to sun damage.

This is even more of a reason to keep sun protected at all times but also moisturise frequently and stay hydrated. Try and get a sun cream that also has moisturising properties so that you only have to carry around one bottle whilst you’re skiing.

Plan Your Skiing Times Wisely

Imagine empty slopes, no queues, pristine powder and low UV intensity – sounds good right? If so, get down to the slopes before 10am when the UV intensity is weaker, and you can enjoy the perks of beating the crowds too. Not everyone is a morning person so perhaps try and aim to go skiing later in the afternoon, ideally after 4pm, when the UV intensity is weaker.

Understandably you’re there to ski, not to hide from the sun, so if you follow the other tips in this article, you should stay well protected on your adventures.

Don’t Forget

The UV intensity can be astonishingly high in the mountains. A single sun burn has lasting effects, so go prepared with sun-safety in mind and enjoy the skiing!