Just because winter is here doesn’t mean you should put away your sunscreen. You can probably skip on applying sunscreen to skin hidden under clothes, but the same can’t be said for your face and hands. Those areas get hit with harmful rays all year and need protection all year.

When choosing a sunscreen, it is important to understand what’s on the label. Look for:

  • SPF, or Sun Protection Factor. A higher SPF number means multiple protective ingredients are present to protect from cancer-causing UVB rays. Best protection with any sunscreen occurs when the sunscreen is re-applied every 2-3 hours when outdoors.
  • Zinc Oxide. A product with at least 5 percent zinc oxide will allow the sunscreen to stay on top of skin and block harmful UVA and UVB rays. Zinz Oxide is the very best for UVA protection. These are the rays that cause thinning, aging and wrinkling in the deeper skin layer.

Don’t think makeup provides enough sun protection. While some foundations do include an SPF, it isn’t enough to provide complete or all day protection. Apply a sunscreen under foundation to ensure your skin is protected. If you’re worried about oily skin, a sunscreen can easily be used in place of a moisturizer. Theraderm Platinum Protection Facial Sunscreen is oil-free and lightweight, making it ideal for use under makeup.

If sun damage has occurred, restore your skin with Theraderm Fruit Acid, a lactic acid toner that works to reduce the inflammatory effects of sun damage. This product reduces the symptoms of sunburns and restores skin condition after a burn has occurred. When applied less than four hours after sun exposure, or any type of burn, Theraderm Fruit Acid has been shown to:

  • Stop pain
  • Eliminate redness
  • Prevent blister formation

For best results, follow up with Theraderm OPC Reparative Gel, which will repair and minimize cumulative UV damage.

Don’t leave your skin exposed this winter. Protect it with sunscreen and enjoy the benefits of undamaged skin.