Why Your Skin Needs Year-Round Protection ​—​ Even In Seattle

From solar energy to serotonin, sunlight offers many benefits — but sun exposure doesn’t come without risks. Even on overcast days in rain-heavy cities like Seattle and Everett, your skin is still exposed to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

Here’s what you need to know about protecting your skin year-round, even when it’s cloudy outside.

How Does The Sun Affect Your Skin?

There are many benefits to going outdoors and safely spending time in the sun. It helps our bodies make Vitamin D, regulates circadian rhythms and decreases depression brought on by seasonal affective disorder. However, the sun can also cause harmful effects without proper care and protection.

As you age, your skin’s ability to repair sun damage decreases — especially with increased exposure to the sun’s rays. Prolonged exposure to the sun can also age the skin, causing photoaging, a condition where the sun changes the skin’s cellular structure. This can show up as uneven skin, wrinkles and brown spots.

It’s also important to know there’s a risk of skin cancer with prolonged sun exposure. It can occur over the years as the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are absorbed by the skin without protection. The effect of the sun on our DNA can be harmful enough to cause rapid multiplication of the cells and present as a tumor, which may or may not be benign. Even though those with fairer skin are usually more prone to sun damage, skin cancer and other maladies can happen to anyone.

What Are UV Rays?

The sun emits ultraviolet rays which are broken down into UVC, UVB, and UVA rays. UVC rays are mostly blocked by the ozone layer from entering the Earth’s atmosphere, but people can be directly affected by UVB and UVA rays as well.

UVB rays can damage the top layer of skin known as the epidermis. UVB rays, usually the most active between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., are strongest in the summer months but can be filtered through glass. UVA rays can penetrate deeper into the skin than UVB and cannot be filtered through glass. Prolonged exposure to UV radiation can increase the number of moles on the body, and cause skin cancer or have a negative effect on the immune system.

When Can The Sun Affect Your Skin?

The sun can affect your skin year-round, whether it’s overcast or clear skies, which is why it’s important to always protect yourself from harmful sun rays. Here are some skin protection tips you can use throughout the year.

Summer

During the summer months, usually between July and September for Washington, the sun is the most active. While this is great for summer activities, intense sun exposure can cause sunburns and skin damage. Thankfully, you can avoid sunburn and harmful UV ray exposure by applying sunscreen and wearing hats and sunglasses. Your sunscreen should be at least 30 SPF during the summer months and water-resistant if you’re heading to the coast.

Fall

Early fall in Washington can be sunny and dry like summer, meaning it’s important to continue to wear sunscreen and protective clothing. As the days turn cooler and rainier, especially come late October, it’s still important to wear at least an SPF 15 sunscreen along with moisturizers and lip balms that include sunscreen.

Winter

Many people believe they’re protected from the sun during the winter months. However, UVB rays are still able to cause damage to the skin as they bounce off reflective surfaces such as snow and rain. UVB rays will also increase as you head to higher altitudes — meaning you should even pack your sunscreen for a ski vacation. Since the winter can get cold in Washington, wearing layers is easy to do and a great way to protect your skin.

Spring

As the temperature warms up, UVB rays will shine bright and become more dangerous than in late fall and winter. In spring, the sun’s rays become more direct due to the Earth’s positioning. It’s important to wear at least an SPF 15 sunscreen and continue to wear layers outside.

How To Protect Your Skin Year-Round

Sunscreen is the best and most effective protection for your skin against UV radiation exposure. Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before you plan to head outside and reapplied every two hours, or more often if you’re sweating or swimming.

Keep in mind that water, sand, snow and even concrete can reflect the sun’s rays, causing additional sun damage and increasing the chance of sunburn. Promptly dry yourself after being in the water and apply another layer of sunscreen.

Here are a few additional tips for keeping your skin safe from sun damage from the experts at GoodRx:

• Pick the right sunglasses. It’s important to choose sunglasses that will protect your eyes and the surrounding skin. Find sunglasses that will filter out and absorb 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Be sure to keep them in a case to keep them free from scratches, which will decrease the UV protection. Plan to use your shades even on overcast days to keep your eyes and skin healthy.
• Limit sun exposure during the middle of the day. The sun’s UV rays are the most intense between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Stay in the shade or go indoors during these times while applying sunscreen and taking other protective measures.
• Wear protective clothing. If temperatures allow, consider wearing a long-sleeved shirt and pants or a long dress to cover your skin and protect it from harmful UV rays.
• Check your prescription labels. Take care to understand the effects of certain medications including antibiotics, blood pressure medications, and chemotherapies that can make your skin even more sensitive to the sun. Be sure to use additional precautions if you’re taking any of these medications.

What To Do If You Already Have Sun-Damaged Skin

If your skin has already been damaged through prolonged exposure to the sun and resulted in sunspots, skin cancer, or sagging skin, you have options to protect yourself from further damage. Here are a few treatments that can assist your skin:

• Retinoids are derived from Vitamin A and influence skin cells to shed and then regrow. Topical retinoids can help reduce sun spots and increase collagen production while treating mild wrinkles.
• Antioxidants, including Vitamin C, help to decrease the deterioration of the skin from DNA damage, as well as reduce the effects of harmful UV rays.
• Chemical peels help improve the appearance of skin by removing the top epidermis layer and revealing the healthier skin below.
• Exfoliants give the skin a better chance of removing damaged skin cells and stimulating the creation of new ones.

Looking for the best deals on prescription skin treatments? Simply enter your medication name into GoodRx’s website or mobile app to compare prices and save money at pharmacies in your area.