Central Oregon Sun

The High Desert and Your Sunscreen

Situated at 3500 feet in the high desert, Bend is a community that prides itself of it’s abundance of outdoor activities. With our so-called 300 days of sunshine every year, we have to protect ourselves from the damaging rays of the sun. The combination of higher altitude and ultraviolet (UV) rays reflected by the snow puts the people of central Oregon at an increased risk of sun damage and ultimately, skin cancer. It's easy to associate winter with frostbite and windburn, but most people are unaware that UV rays can be even more damaging on the slopes than on the beach. Higher altitude means increased levels of harmful UV exposure compared to sea level areas. UV exposure increases 8-10 percent with every 1,000 feet above sea level. In Bend, that puts us at 35% more sun intensity and up on the mountain, at an altitude of 8-10,000 feet, UV may be 45-50 percent more intense than at sea level. In addition, snow reflects about 80 percent of the UV light from the sun, meaning that you are often hit by the same rays twice, once directly and another time by reflection. This only contributes to the problem, further increasing the risk for skin cancer.

Skin cancers are on the rise and malignant melanoma might become the number one cancer in the world in the next few years. An ounce of prevention is worth the pound of cure so it is important that we understand what all the new sunscreens are all about before we just unknowingly lather up and go outside to play.

We have been told over time that the use of sunscreens will protect us from the ultraviolet rays of the sun.

Since the introduction of sunscreens in the 1960’s, the incidence of skin cancer has risen and today, the detection of skin cancer numbers around 1.5 million cases each year. Aren’t sunscreens suppose to protect us?

What are sunscreens?
Sunscreens are chemicals that protect the skin from ultraviolet B rays. The SPF rating on a sunscreen is a ratio of the amount of time it will take to produce a redness on skin that has sunscreen applied to it. An SPF of 10 should allow you to stay in the sun 10 times longer than without before your skin turns red. Most sunscreens only protect against UVB radiation and not the UVA rays. Protection from UVA rays is supplied by some chemicals known as avobenzone and Parsol 1789. Most scientific studies suggest that it is the UVA rays that cause all the damage and that there is 100 times more UVA rays than there are UVB.

UVA penetrates deep into the skin and facilitates a nice tan. The UVB rays cause sunburns and eye damage without the right protection. UVB rays are also needed for vitamin D production and calcium absorption.

The UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermal layers where collagen is made. UVA rays cause a lot of free-radical damage to the skin. Some scientists also believe that too much UVA exposure can lower one’s immune system. People, to this day, still think that if they apply sunscreen that they are fully protected fro the sun. Not true!

The sun, as it has been discovered is not the only way to get melanoma. Researchers over the years have found that people who work indoors, under fluorescent lights and do not go outdoors much have the higher incidence of melanomas. ‘The Lancet’, Aug 1982. Factoring in skin color, history of sun exposure and distance from the lights it was found that working under fluorescent lights doubled the risk for melanomas. The study showed that tanned skin actually helps protect the skin and that people who received more sunlight were less vulnerable to the effects of fluorescent lighting. Many people today are advocating the use of ‘full-spectrum” lights or other alternative lighting sources.

The natural warm light from the sun is soothing and relaxing and is necessary for optimum health. The amount of time one spends in the sun is a question of balance. Daily sun exposure helps the body make vitamin D, necessary for bone development, and increases the production of melanin in our skin which is our own natural sunscreen. Overexposure to the sun’s rays can cause drying out of the skin, resulting in wrinkling and skin aging, but underexposure can also be detrimental, leading to vitamin D deficiency, which can promote melanomas.

Contrary to the common advice that sunscreen should be reapplied every 2–3 hours, some research has shown that the best protection is achieved by application 15–30 minutes before exposure, followed by one reapplication 15–30 minutes after the sun exposure begins. Reapplication is only necessary after activities such as swimming, sweating, and rubbing. Not reapplying could even cause more cell damage than not using sunscreen at all, due to the release of extra free radicals from those sunscreen chemicals which were absorbed into the skin

Both snow and strong wind can wear away sunscreen and reduce its effectiveness, so you have to take extra precautions. To protect your skin from the bitter cold, heavy winds and winter sun, follow these important sun protection tips:
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher whenever you spend time outdoors. Apply 30 minutes before going outside. Be aware that the sun's reflection off the snow is strong even on cloudy days.
Apply sunscreen liberally and evenly to all exposed skin - most people do not use enough sunscreen and therefore do not get the maximum protection.
Use a more moisturizing sunscreen. Winter conditions can be particularly harsh on the skin.
Be sure to cover often-missed spots: lips, ears, around eyes, neck, underside of chin, scalp and hands.
Always wear a lip balm with an SPF 15 or higher. Lips are even more sensitive than most parts of the skin.
Reapply at least every two hours, and more often after sweating or exposure to wind and snow.
Carry a travel-sized sunscreen and lip balm with you on the slopes. Reapply on the chairlift, especially after a long, snow-blown run.
Cover up.
On the slopes, items like ski masks will cover most of the skin, leaving very little exposed to the wind and sun.
UV-blocking sunglasses or goggles that offer 100% UV protection and have wraparound or large frames protect your eyelids and the sensitive skin around your eyes, common sites for skin cancer and sun-induced aging. The sun's rays and glare can impair your vision, so it's important to wear sunglasses or goggles to clearly see the terrain. Plus, it will increase your enjoyment and performance of the activity.



Be mindful of time spent in the sun, regardless of the season.
Keep track of the time you spend in full sunlight. If possible, play early in the morning before 12 a.m. rather than later in the day. This helps to decrease the amount of time spent outdoors in the most intense hours of sunlight.
If you are on the slopes for most of the day, take a few breaks indoors to reapply sunscreen.
Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration from the sun.
Seek the shade.
Be aware, however, that sunlight bouncing off reflective surfaces can reach you even beneath an umbrella or a tree.
Never seek a tan.
There is no such thing as a healthy tan. A tan is the skin's response to the sun's damaging rays.
Stay away from tanning parlors and artificial tanning devices.
The UV radiation emitted by indoor tanning lamps is many times more intense than natural sunlight. Dangers include burns, premature aging of the skin, and the increased risk of skin cancer.
Protect your children and teach them sun safety at an early age.
· Healthy habits are best learned young. Because skin damage occurs with each unprotected exposure and accumulates over the course of a lifetime, sun safety for children should be a priority.

You are probably in the habit of packing sunscreen for a day at the beach or pool. But the sun is up there 365 days a year, and you need protection much of that time to reduce your lifetime sun-exposure total. Everyday exposure counts; you do not have to be actively sunbathing to get a damaging dose of the sun. Practice these sun-protection basics all year round to give your skin the best chance of long-term health.


Buy a high-quality product with an SPF of 15 or higher; check its ingredients to make sure it offers broad-spectrum protection; and decide whether it works better for everyday incidental use or extended outdoor us
Finally, look for The Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation, which guarantees that a sunscreen product meets the highest standards for safety and effectiveness. Once you choose the right sunscreen, use it the right way. But remember, you should not rely on sunscreen alone to protect your skin against UV rays. By following the guidelines above, you can lower your risk of developing skin cancer, while helping your skin look younger, longer.