by Stein, Eric's Son
Eye and Skin Protection
Don't skimp on sunglasses. Buy only the best quality and
take good care of them. Get a hard carrying case to store
them in when you are not wearing them. Scratch your phone
number into the frame in case you lose them. Put your
name and number in the carrying case, too. A firmly attached
neck strap is also desirable.
When shopping for sunglasses look for an unbreakable
frame and impact resistant lenses. Make sure the lenses
block both ultraviolet (UV) and thermal infrared (IR)
radiation. If you are going to frequently be out all day
in sunny areas you may also want to get glasses that have
side shields, although this are generally not necessary
in Michigan. A rubber nosepiece sometimes provides more
comfort and is less likely to slip when you sweat. Some
glasses have springloaded hinges, which can prevent them
from breaking in an accident and allow them to conform
to your face better.
Lens color is a matter of choice. Neutral gray is best
for sunny days. Yellow is really nice on gray days –
makes the whole world look more cheerful. Yellow is also
good for low light conditions. Both yellow and rose colored
lens improve contrast and make reading the snow surface
easier. Some glasses have interchangeable lenses so you
can match the conditions of the day.
Use only a very soft cotton cloth to clean glasses. Never
use napkins or tissue paper, both can scratch your lenses.
Anti-fog compounds are available that can be rubbed onto
the lenses to reduce fogging up when you come indoors
out of the cold.
The wavelengths of sunlight that cause sunburn are highly
reflected by snow so that you get a lot more reflected
sunlight in the winter than in the summer; almost as much
as if you were out on the water in the summer. This explains
how you can get a sunburn on a clear winter's day, even
though the sun never gets as high in the sky. It also
explains way you need to put sunburn prevention cream
on the underside of your chin and even on the inside of
your nose at high elevations. If you are not wearing a
hat. don't forget the fronts and backs of your ears, too.
If you are going to be outdoors for extended periods
of time you should use a sunblock with an SPF rating of
at least 15. Sports sunblocks can be purchased that are
also sweat resistant.
Lips also need serious protection from the sun. Lip balms
do not always contain a sunblock. Make sure yours does.
Reapply it often if you are drinking or eating.
For extremely cold and windy conditions you may also
need a skin cream that will prevent moisture loss. Many
of these creams contain beeswax and although they feel
a little greasy, they do work.
After skiing, don't forget to moisturize your skin with
something like aloe vera to revitalize it. Aloe vera will
also help to soothe a sunburn.
