Should you wear sunscreen in the winter?

Can the winter sun harm your skin? Yes, it can. Too much sun can damage and prematurely age skin — regardless of the season.

Fortunately, there are several ways to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays any time of year. Mayo Clinic experts recommend these winter sun safety tips when enjoying the great outdoors.

Use broad-spectrum sunscreen

Apply broad-spectrum, also known as full-spectrum, sunscreen to any exposed skin, like on your face, neck and ears. Broad-spectrum sunscreen protects you from both types of ultraviolet (UV) rays that can burn your skin — UVA and UVB.

While clouds provide some protection, the sun can penetrate through thin clouds and scatter UV rays, increasing your exposure and risk.

To lessen UV exposure, Mayo Clinic experts recommend sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Higher SPF numbers offer more protection — but maybe not as much more as you think.

  • SPF 15 shields skin from 93% of UVB rays.
  • SPF 30 filters nearly 97% of UVB rays.
  • SPF 50 filters about 98% of UVB rays.
  • SPF 100 filters about 99% of UVB rays.

When applied correctly, a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 provides 4% more protection than sunscreen with an SPF of 15, not twice as much. An SPF of 100 provides only 2% more protection than an SPF of 30, not triple the amount. No sunscreen offers 100% protection.

Keep in mind that these percentages decrease over time. So if you're outdoors for more than 1 to 2 hours, be sure to reapply your sunscreen.

Avoid the sun during peak hours

Peak hours are generally between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. It's best to limit UV exposure during these hours, even on overcast days. Also, taking small breaks indoors or in the shade throughout the day can reduce exposure and give you a chance to reapply your sunscreen.

Wear full-body protective gear

It's easy to cover your skin in the winter — it's cold! Yet your face, ears, scalp and neck remain vulnerable to the sun year-round. Clothing made from tightly woven fabric, and hats with full brims, offer the most protection.

And because the reflective qualities of snow can double your exposure, wear high-quality sunglasses that block UV rays to help protect your eyes.

  1. Tips to stay safe in the sun. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/tips-stay-safe-sun-sunscreen-sunglasses. Accessed Jan. 11, 2023.
  2. How to help protect your skin from the sun. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/sunscreen-how-help-protect-your-skin-sun. Accessed Mar. 26, 2025.
  3. Radiation: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-ultraviolet-(uv). Accessed Jan. 11, 2023.
  4. How to protect your skin from UV rays. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/sun-and-uv/uv-protection.html. Accessed Mar. 26, 2025.
  5. Sun safety facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/skin-cancer/sun-safety. Accessed Mar. 26, 2025.
  6. Ultraviolet (UV) protection. American Optometric Association. https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/caring-for-your-eyes/uv-protection?sso=y. Accessed Jan. 6, 2023.
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