Out & About: Don’t neglect sunscreen in winter

OUTFRY – Winter is no time to put away the sunscreen.

Although cold weather forces outdoors enthusiasts to cover more skin with clothing, faces in particular take a beating in winter.

Skiers, snowmmobilers, anglers and others who spend time out on the reflective surfaces of snowy slopes, ice-capped lakes and open water get a megadose of skin-damaging rays.

Even with sunscreen sales approaching $1 billion a year, skin cancer rates continue to climb. Melanoma diagnoses have risen nearly 2 percent a year since 2000.

Some experts blame inappropriate use of sunscreen, saying that people do not apply enough lotion or do not reapply it every hour or so as recommended.

Choose sunscreen products greater than SPF 15 that protect skin from ultraviolet B rays, the main cause of sunburn, as well as from ultraviolet A rays, which are associated with aging and skin damage.

Most experts recommend products in the range of SPF 30 to 50, emphasizing that a higher SPF does not mean you can reapply it less often. Avoid sunscreen sprays, which are not as effective as lotions.

Since labeling laws were upgraded two years ago, use of the label “broad spectrum protection” means the sunscreen has been proved to protect against both UVA and UVB rays, although the UVA protection may be comparatively weaker.

Products that use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as active ingredients appear to be the most effective, although they may leave a milky film on the skin.

Skinny skiers

earn the title

OUTGOING – Active outdoor winter pursuits have a way of getting people out of the house – and making practitioners hungry. But which activities burn the most calories?

The following activities are listed with the number of calories burned per hour.

The first number is for a 40-year-old, 6-foot tall, 175-pound man.

The second is for a 40-year-old, 5-5, 135-pound woman.

1. Cross-country skiing — 903, 697

2. Running (6 mph) — 798, 616

3. Downhill skiing — 693, 535

4. Snowshoeing — 557, 431

5. Shoveling snow — 483, 373

6. Sledding — 477, 369

7. Ice skating — 399, 308

8. Walking (3 mph) — 346, 267

9. Snowmobiling — 273, 211

10. Ice fishing — 80, 62

Sources: healthstatus.com, calorielab.com