There’s nothing better than fresh mountain air on a blue bird day. But a day on the mountain can also do damage to your skin if you’re not careful – think sunburn, windburn and dryness. Thankfully we have some quick hit tips so your day on the slopes can be safe, fun and memorable.
Prevent Sunburn – Wear Sunscreen
Who doesn’t love a good vertical challenge high up in the mountains? But don’t forget that the higher up you are the more exposed you are to UV radiation.
For example, in Vail Colorado (one of the largest ski resorts in the US) UV rays on the mountain are 60% more powerful than at sea level. For every 1,000 feet above sea level, UV levels go up by 4-10%.
Add in the exposure from the sun reflecting off the snow and your skin could be in for a real sunburn treat. Fortunately there’s a super simple solution to preventing sunburn – wear sunscreen! It’s that easy. If you do get sunburn, read our post “5 Ways to Treat Sunburn” for solutions on managing it.
Prevent Windburn – Cover Up
Another thrill of skiing and snowboarding is rushing down the mountain at high speeds. The speed + low temperatures + low humidity on the slopes can combine to windburn the skin.
Fortunately, there’s a surefire way to prevent it - cover up. Just pop on a hat, scarf, gloves and facemask and your skin will be good to go for the entire day.
If you don’t like wearing a facemask, I’ve found a good moisturizer put on before and while hitting the slopes helps with windburn too. It’s not as surefire as covering up, but it definitely helps.
If you do get windburn, check out our post “Windburn Tips – How to Prevent and Treat” for more advice on treating windburns.
Prevent Dryness – Moisturize & Hydrate
Mountain air is dry plus your body will lose moisture as you workout on those hills. As a result, your skin can appear crackly and dull.
Make sure you drink lots of water throughout the day and moisturize, moisture, moisture your skin before and after.
Find Even More Winter Skin Care Tips
For those of us that aren’t hitting the slopes – the cold winter temps and dry air can be tough on the skin in other ways. Find out our tips for keeping your skin at its best all season long in our “5 Steps to Prevent Dry Skin in the Winter” blog post and our skin care education series.