Skin Care

Even when winds are blowing at temperatures below zero, winter is the time when the number of outdoor winter activity fans increases. But there are always enemies that can ruin the skin, the eye, and other sensitive areas of the body.

Protect the eyes when hiking-

Snow reflects much more ultra-violet rays than dirt roads or ordinary ground, and therefore can damage eyesight easily. While asphalt ground reflects 4-11% of ultra-violet rays, and dirt reflects 5-8%, snow reflects 80% of ultra-violet rays.

The most common symptom resulting from reflected snow is snow blindness. This is a disease that damages the cornea of the exposed eye, and causes an inflammation so that objects cannot be seen properly. Snow blindness is accompanied by serious pain and coldness of the eyes and tears, so that one can’t open their eyes. As a result, they aren’t able to see well. In the winter, when ultra-violet rays reflecting off of snow are strong, it is easy for hikers to get snow blindness while climbing.

Since objects can’t be seen properly, it’s hard to come down the mountain safely, and might put hikers into a dangerous situation. Someone who experiences the symptoms of snow blindness must go to an ophthalmologist. If one is diagnosed with snow blindness, it must be treated until the inflammation calms down.

Adults who enjoy hiking must also be aware of cataracts. If the eyes are exposed to ultra-violet rays for a long time, it could cause cataracts.

Protecting the skin while skiing-

The more speed you gain, the easier moisture from the skin flies away. This leads to skin dryness and wrinkles. Moisture supplements are essential before and after skiing. Drink water now and then to replenish moisture. Avoid coffee, since it brings diuretic effects, causing moisture drainage.

There are people whose lips dry out when skiing. The day before going skiing, put moisture cream on the lips as well. Taking lip balm along in one’s ski suit is essential.

Put on Vaseline or lip balm regularly to keep the lips moist. If your lips are already chafed, cover your lips with a steam towel for 3-5 minutes to make them soft, and get rid of the keratin. Mix nourishment cream with essence, put plenty of it on your lips, and cover it with wrap. After a while, your lips will become soft again.

Goggles and ski masks are also necessary to avoid moisture hydration. A ski mask is also helpful in protecting the nose, which is easily sunburned.

Sun cream can protect the skin from liver spots and freckles when put on 30 minutes before skiing. It must be rated over SPF30. When skiing over six hours, it must be put on again at least twice. For a woman who has put on makeup, and can’t put it on again, a spray-type sun cream is useful.

(Written with aid from professor of College of Medicine at Konyang University Kim Byeong-yeop, and director of Theme Dermatology Lim I-seop.)

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