Dr. Pollock On ☀️WINTER TIME SUN PROTECTION ❄️

Dr. Pollock On ☀️WINTER TIME SUN PROTECTION ❄️

☀️ WINTER TIME SUN PROTECTION❄️
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Finally Pittsburgh has escaped the polar vortex and it's feeling like spring! It was the perfect weather to do a light workout outside. Even in the winter time when the sun isn't as strong, I still make sun protection a priority. Yes, you can still get sun damage and even a sunburn in the wintertime!
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THE FACTS:
☀️Sun exposure tends to be more intermittent in the winter, and most people don't think to wear their sunscreen resulting in significant photo damage, especially from UVA rays (the ones that cause photoaging)
❄️Snow actually doubles a person's UV ray exposure because it reflects back 80% of UVA rays
☁️ Cloudy days can trick people into thinking they aren't getting sun exposure. Lightly cloudy days offer little protection and may even enhance UV levels because of scattering
🚗 So maybe you don't go outside at all in the winter...you're still at risk. UVA (photoaging) rays easily penetrate the glass windows in our car!
🏔 UV rays increase as elevation increases (exposure increases 4-5% with every 1000 feet above sea level). So, when you're skiing in the mountains, you need to be extra careful about sun protection. 🌍 The ozone layer is thinner in the winter time, resulting in less sun protection.


HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF:
When I go for a run or even just walking my pup, I make sure I'm protected from the dangerous UV rays.
👉Applying an SPF sunscreen of at least 30 prior to going outside
👉Sometimes it's a ton of work to apply sunscreen, so I just throw on my @eclipsesunproducts Aurora Shawl. This offers a UPF 50+ sun protection, blocking more than 98% of UV rays. The best thing about this is how light weight it is, especially for a run. HIGHLY recommend!!
👉Be sure to cover up missed spots such as the neck, ears, lips, and eyes. I recommend wearing a wide brim hap (or baseball hat at the minimum)
👉Don't forget protecting the lips by using a lip balm with SPF and reapplying often

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