Winter sun – danger for the skin
Sufficient sun protection is also important in winter, because the sun’s rays can be very intense, especially during winter sports. Don’t be fooled by the cold and an overcast sky: it doesn’t reduce the intensity of UV radiation. The winter sun is especially intense in the mountains.
Adequate sun protection is important
Bright surfaces such as snow and ice reflect the UV rays and thus increase the effect of the sun. You should therefore ensure adequate sun protection when playing sports and games outdoors, because skin that has been weaned from the sun reacts much more sensitively to UV radiation. Match the protection to your skin type. Particularly light-sensitive people with a very light skin tone, blond or reddish hair and blue eyes need a product with a relatively high sun protection factor.
The skin needs oil and moisture
Dry air robs the skin of moisture. Water and fats are transported from the subcutaneous tissue to the surface to prevent the outer layers of skin from drying out. But the process has nothing to do with sweating . Blood circulation in the skin is also reduced in the cold. Both can cause the skin to become tight, flaky, and itchy . Therefore, it must be protected from the cold.
For outdoor sports activities, you can apply a special cold protection balm. It contains fatty substances that do not harden even at low temperatures. If you take a break in closed, warm rooms, it is advisable to wipe off such preparations. Otherwise, there may be an unpleasant build-up of heat under the film of fat. After being outdoors, the skin needs moisture. Preparations with moisture-binding substances counteract the dehydration of the upper layers of the skin.
Lips need special protection
Lips have neither sebum nor sweat glands that could provide oil and moisture. In addition, a robust horny layer is almost completely absent. This is why lips become brittle and cracked so quickly, especially in winter when the cold and dry air affect them. That’s why lip care, most easily with a care stick, is very important.
Because the lips are also very sensitive to the sun, high sun protection factors make sense. For a stay in the mountains you should choose a sun protection factor of 10 or more, for everyday use factor 3 is sufficient. They are visible on the lips, which can also be a deliberate fashion gag, depending on the color you choose.
Maintain your shield
Care and precautions for the skin are by no means exaggerated. With an average area of 1.8 square meters and a weight of 5 to 10 kilograms, it is the largest and also one of the most versatile organs in the human body. It protects us against heat, cold, solar radiation and pressure, against chemical substances and pathogens.
It also prevents the ingress and egress of liquids. Water is released from the skin specifically for heat regulation. The fatty tissue of the hypodermis serves as a buffer zone for the underlying organs, as protection against the cold and as a fat store.