Summer has come to its conclusion, and it's time to unpack your beach bag after a long summer on the beach.

You can put your swimsuit and beach towels into storage, stash your sandals on the shoe rack, and deflate the beach ball. You might want to wait before you put your sunscreen and any UPF clothing away in the drawer, however.

The sun shines just as brightly on the ski slopes as it does on your favorite sandy beaches, but are those golden rays dangerous in the winter? You might find it surprising just how much damage can the winter sun can do. Luckily, the UPF clothing in your beach bag can keep your skin healthy all winter long.

Understanding the science behind skin protection is the first step toward keeping yourself safe on even the longest winter hike. This guide will teach you exactly why it's so important to take extra care to protect your skin when you're participating in winter sports and activities.

Read on to learn all about the science behind UV protection and how style and safety go hand in hand!

The Winter Sun

In a perfect world, we'd all put on sunscreen just as automatically as we brush our teeth. The sun is a constant and is doing damage to your exposed skin all day long. Sun damage isn't always as apparent as a bright red sunburn but can have long-term implications that impact your life and health in the future.

If you don't put on sunscreen before you take a drive in the car or enjoy an Autumn picnic with friends, you're probably not applying it before you head to the pond to ice skate. After all, you're all bundled up in coats and hats! If your face turns pink, that redness will surely fade when you head inside for hot cocoa!

In reality, it's not the sunlight that is cause for concern in the wintertime. The danger comes from the different forms of radiation that can change your skin cells down to the DNA. Radiation isn't deterred by standard winter gear, and you won't be aware of all of the damage until it's too late.

The culprit is UV radiation, otherwise known as ultraviolet light.

What Is Ultraviolet Radiation?

You might have first heard about ultraviolet light after buying a psychedelic glow-in-the-dark poster. Those iconic purple bulbs are one form of ultraviolet light, but not the sort that you should worry about.

UV is a form of electromagnetic radiation produced by the sun. It comes in various wavelengths, and some are more damaging to your living skin tissue than others. We call the wide range of UV wavelengths the electromagnetic spectrum.

Some of the wavelengths are part of our lives every day. For example, microwaves, radio waves, and even x-rays use UV radiation to function. The harmful UV waves from the sun fall somewhere between the visible light all around us and x-rays.

There are three different forms of damaging ultraviolet light. They are UVA, UVB, and UVC radiation.

UVA Radiation

UVA radiation is the longest of the three forms of ultraviolet radiation that do damage to your skin. These are the rays that slowly damage your skin cells over time. The damage is slow and steady, so you often won't notice it's happening until it's far too late.

Some of the most common visible signs of UVA damage are sunspots and wrinkles. In essence, it's associated with premature aging and cosmetic imperfections. The rays break down your cells faster than they'd break down naturally, making you look far older than your chronological age.

UVB Radiation

UVB rays are the shortest of the UV rays and the most notorious. If you've ever received a burning, blistering, peeling sunburn, UVB rays were the likely culprit. They do the most short-term damage and create the most immediate discomfort.

This skin reddening and burning is because UVB rays have more energy than UVA rays. They do direct and immediate damage to your DNA.

While you can always slap some aloe vera on your burn and move on with your life, the truth is that you're only addressing the symptom of the problem. The damage to your DNA caused by these rays is commonly associated with a variety of skin cancers.

UVC Radiation

Out of the three forms of damaging UV radiation, UVC has the most energy of all. This makes them the least likely to cause damage to humans. They begin doing damage long before they reach the ground, interacting with gasses in the ozone layer.

You typically don't need to protect yourself from these rays when you're going outside. When harnessed for artificial use, however, this form of radiation can do some severe damage. You'll see UVC rays used in welding torches and mercury lamps.

Conditions for UV Exposure

UV radiation is not the same as visible light, and when you're exposed, you're most likely unaware of it. We know to keep ourselves safe when we're out on the beach because we have so much skin exposed. However, most clothing will not protect you from these invisible rays, so winter is no safer than summer.

When are you exposed to ultraviolet radiation, and when are you safe? There are quite a few factors that go into this, and awareness is the first step toward preventing serious damage to your skin.

Most radiation comes from the sun, but not all of the radiation will reach your skin. Remember how UVC rays primarily affect the atmosphere? The longer the waves, the less energy, and the more likely radiation is to reach your skin.

About 95% of the radiation that will reach your skin is in the form of UVA waves. The remainder of the radiation will be in the form of the shorter waves of UVB. Either form of radiation can be stronger or weaker, depending on certain conditions.

Time of Day

The sun is always moving in the sky, which gives it better access to your skin at certain times of the day. You are at the highest risk of exposure when the sun is highest in the sky. This is typically between late morning and early evening, approximately 10 AM through 4 PM daily.

Location

Your physical location on the earth also plays a role. The sun shines most harshly on the equator at the center of the planet. Your proximity to the equator increases your risk of exposure considerably, regardless of the season.

Altitude

The altitude also plays a role, which is very important if you're a winter sports fan. UV rays are far more likely to reach the ground atop a mountain or a slope. This is because you are closer to the sun, and UV rays do not have to work as hard to reach you.

Weather Conditions

Snow also plays a massive role in how many UV rays reach your skin. Snow is white, a very reflective wavelength that rays will bounce right off. When this happens, they have nowhere to go but your skin, where the damage can be just as severe.

Length of Exposure

The longer you experience exposure, the more damage that these rays can do. On a snowy day at a high altitude, you are at significant risk of significant sun damage. In many ways, a ski outing is as risky as a day spent tanning on the sand.

Risks of UV Exposure

We've already explained that UV exposure can do damage to your living skin cells and DNA, but what exactly does that mean? UV exposure can come with long-term consequences. Understanding the risks can better inform the decisions you make when you head out for a snowboarding trip.

Sunburn

While you may think that you look good in a tan, have you ever stopped to wonder why your skin does that? Tanning is your body's emergency response to prevent skin damage. Your body rushes to produce melanin, which absorbs UV rays and helps to dispel excess heat.

Sometimes that extra melanin is not enough, and the radiation still damages your skin. That's when burns happen. Sunburn results from your body's natural defenses becoming overwhelmed by too much damage occurring too fast.

The pink or red color is actually due to your body's subsequent emergency response. Your body sends a flood of blood to the damaged area to prevent and mitigate DNA damage. This helps with the healing process: it would be much worse if your body didn't respond in this way.

Skin Cancer

A lot of skin cancer begins with sunburn. Some of your DNA may mutate after exposure, and your body's natural functions will become confused. This may cause specific skin cells to reproduce.

When cells begin to reproduce out of control, it's considered cancer. While this can happen in any organ of the body, skin cancer is one of the few forms of cancer that we can see. It's one of the most common forms of cancer, but it's no less dangerous.

Your risk of developing skin cancer increases with each sunburn you experience. With each burn, your odds of damaging and mutating your skin cells increases. Even mild skin cancers may require medical intervention, including surgery and other uncomfortable and expensive procedures.

The deadliest form of skin cancer is melanoma. Your risk of experiencing melanoma increases if you have burned five or more times. Individuals who burn frequently have double the risk of experiencing this devastating malignancy.

How to Prevent Skin Damage

Don't be so quick to cancel your ski trip! While the sun always has the potential to damage your skin, there are many ways to keep yourself safe. If you are proactive, you can spend hours exploring the winter landscape without any risk of skin damage.

Sunscreen

We all know to apply sunscreen before a day at the beach, but it is just as effective before a day on the mountain! Sunscreen can block UV radiation through a combination of physical and chemical ingredients. The ingredients work together to protect your cells from sustaining damage.

The physical ingredients primarily consist of minerals such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Their role is to scatter the rays before they can reach your skin, effectively blocking them from harming you.

The chemical ingredients are lab-made and absorb any rays that the physical components are unable to block. In essence, they take the damage for you, so your cells do not take damage.

You may have noticed that sunscreens come with a variety of SPF values. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor.

This value represents the amount of time it would take for your skin to sustain damage if you apply the product as directed. This compares to how long it would take if you did not use any sun protection at all. For example, SPF 50 sunscreen prevents you from burning for fifty times as long as it would take to sustain a burn without it.

Choose a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection. This means the sunscreen will block both UVA and UVB rays.

UPF Clothing

For a day at the slopes, you'll probably dress in warm layers and protective gear. Just because your skin is not exposed doesn't mean radiation is not reaching it. Regular clothing doesn't block UV rays, so even if you manage to avoid sunburn, those rays may still be doing damage.

Your clothing can be just as practical for blocking radiation as sunscreen. The secret is UPF or Ultraviolet Protection Factor. Companies can produce fabric with UPF built-in, which can block and subvert harmful rays.

What Is UPF Clothing?

UPF clothing is any clothing with a high enough UPF to protect your skin from radiation damage. UPF is similar to SPF, with a UPF factor of 50+ being enough to block 98% of the sun's rays. Unlike sunscreen, you don't need to reapply, and the clothing will keep you safe at all times.

Unlike sunscreen, all UPF fabric is broad-spectrum and blocks both UVA and UVB rays. When the fabric is high-quality, such as the pieces created with BloqUV's BloqTek technology, this protection is permanent and persists through multiple washings. That's because the UPF fabric used by BloqUV does not use chemicals to earn its UPF status.

This BloqTek fabric is the basis for many styles of UV protective clothing. Scientists test the clothing for the UPF factor in independent laboratories. They conduct these tests when the fabric is wet and dry, so you can be confident that your clothing is doing its job regardless of the conditions.

UPF Clothing From BloqUV

Now you know, your risk of exposure to damaging ultraviolet rays does not necessarily decrease during the winter months. The sun will penetrate your clothes and leave you burnt and at risk for premature aging and skin cancer. Winter sports lovers who chase their bliss to high elevation, snow-covered mountains are at an even higher risk.

Where can you get stylish and effective UV protective clothing that's appropriate all year long?

BloqUV makes the best UV protective clothing because it's designed with an active lifestyle in mind. They understand that you need protection while participating in winter sports. That's why their products are all lightweight and perfect for layering.

Furthermore, all of the pieces in the BloqUV collection are moisture-wicking, which helps keep you cool during exertion. It is antimicrobial and contains a four-way stretch for durability during a wide range of physical activities.

Designers approached every piece in the BloqUV collection with coverage in mind. The more skin protected by BloqTek fabric, the safer you will be from damaging rays. In addition to long-sleeve clothing, BloqUV offers accessories to fill in any gaps in coverage.

Best of all, BloqUV products are stylish and come in a variety of trendy colors. All of the pieces in the collection coordinate, so you'll look great while staying safe!

Stylish Options for Winter Sports

Are you convinced that it's worth it to protect yourself from the sun in the winter months? When you're shivering, it's easy to forget the sunscreen in the house. You can be proactive by dressing in UPF clothes from BloqUV's collection and keep your skin safe all winter long.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few of the most popular and effective UV protective clothing available now. Stock up before the season begins, and you'll be good to go from day one!

Every item in the collection also makes an excellent gift for the holidays or anytime. Consider each of these products for your favorite skier, snowboarder, figure skater, or hiker!

Women's Long Sleeve 24/7

The best products you can buy are multifunctional, and the Women's Long Sleeve 24/7 top is no exception! In the winter, it's ideal as a base layer. Put it on under your winter wear to ensure full-coverage protection that won't trap the sweat!

In addition to coverage, this piece is versatile. It's just as helpful during the summer months as a rash guard, sun shirt, or coverup.

Best of all, it has a pocket! If that's not enough to convince you, consider the attractive slim fit or twenty-two color options!

Men's Long Sleeve Jet Tee

Why should the ladies have all the fun? The Men's Long Sleeve Jet Tee is BloqUV's versatile solution for the guys. Like the ladies' long sleeve, it makes for the perfect base layer under your favorite snowboarding digs.

The more relaxed fit looks great and uses the same lightweight, stretchy fabric. It won't restrict your movement. It's also small and easy to pack, so you can quickly bring it along if you're traveling to get to the slopes.

When winter comes to an end, you'll love using this as your favorite running, biking, or boating shirt.

Unisex Hoodie

Full-coverage protection knows no gender, and the stylish, classic Unisex Hoodie is the perfect example. It provides just as much coverage as the two tops above, with the addition of a lightweight hood to keep your scalp safe.

A suitable hoodie is a staple of any casual or athletic wardrobe. Why not choose the one that can keep you safe from burning, cancer, and premature aging? With four attractive neutral colors to choose from, you will never have to worry about coordinating or remembering the sunscreen!

Unisex Bandana

Even if you have covered your chest and arms, you're still leaving a lot of your body at risk. It's common for ears, noses, and necks to get burned after a day of winter fun. A bandana is the perfect, coordinated answer to keeping your face covered.

The unisex bandanas in the BloqUV collection utilize the same BloqTek fabric as all of their products and provide the same level of protection. If you've dealt with a lot of winter sunburn in the past, it's a great way to reduce your chances of future burns. Remember, limiting the number of burns you experience significantly reduces your risk of developing certain skin cancers.

Plus, it's fun to accessorize, and the bandana collection matches many of the products in the BloqUV collection. You can wear it as a headband or scarf or use it as a girder to cover your entire face and neck.

Look Great, Stay Safe

It's never a bad idea to wear sunscreen, but UPF clothing is the key to protection for many winter athletes. With UPF clothing, you don't need to worry about forgetting to reapply! You can spend the entire day doing what you love without worrying about the biggest organ in your body: your skin!

BloqUV carries a wide range of fashionable and safe UPF clothing to keep you going all winter long. Browse their selection of outdoor activewear to find the newest addition to your collection of winter gear. You will never have to worry about forgetting the sunscreen again.