Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Danger At Ski Resorts

Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Danger At Ski Resorts.
Skiers and other out of doors enthusiasts beggary to be aware that factors such as weather conditions and time of day can cause considerable modification in the levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation during the winter, researchers say. They analyzed observations collected between 2001 and 2003 at 32 high-altitude ski resorts in western North America. They also interviewed of age guests at the resorts and looked at their clothing and equipment in order to assess their plain of sun protection.

Average UV levels at the ski resorts were moderately low but diverse substantially, the researchers found. Clear skies, time close to noon, and more hours of full knowledge as the ski season progressed were the strongest predictors of increased UV radiation. The researchers also found child associations between higher UV radiation and altitude, longitude and temperature.

However, elevated UV levels were not associated with increased use of sun-protection measures, such as sunscreen lip balm, germaneness of sunscreen 30 minutes before skiing, wearing a precede cover with a brim, or wearing gloves. The deliberate over did find that as UV levels increased, adults were more likely to wear sunscreen with a lowest 15 SPF and to reapply it after two hours, and more likely to wear sunglasses or goggles. Men were more in all probability than women to use sunscreen.

And "Skiers and snowboarders evidently monitor outdoor alpine environments in two ways, for Helios protection and cold protection," wrote Peter A Andersen, San Diego State University, and colleagues in a scoop release from the publisher. "For Phoebus protection, they rely mainly on clear skies as a UV cue. They correctly link unconfused skies with the need for UV protection and use and reapply more sunscreen because UV is present on clear days".

But decisions about vigilant clothing appear to be based on inclement weather (staying warm) rather than elevated UV levels. Commenting on the findings, Dr Doris Day, a dermatologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said the delve into shows that public who engage in outdoor sports are at higher peril for sun damage and skin cancer than they may realize.

And "It highlights the moment of counseling patients to wear UV protection every day all year-round, especially if they are participating in outdoor activities at higher altitudes, and especially if they are at higher jeopardy for skin cancer," Day said. Andersen and his line-up agreed that more needs to be done to educate winter sports enthusiasts on the sun's dangers.

So "More suave sun safety promotions are needed that teach people both to take precautions and to judge accurately when UV is high," the authors conclude. "In subsequent safety promotions, adults should be encouraged to step sunscreen on cloudy days because UV is still high and conditions can change rapidly. They have occasion for reminders to rely more on season and time of day when judging UV and the need for Ra safety," the researchers concluded fav-store. The study appears in the November issue of the journal Archives of Dermatology.