Skiing is a favourite winter pastime for many UK holidaymakers.
For many British holidaymakers, skiing is a popular winter pastime, with more and more people taking up the extreme cold weather sport every year. However, with a high volume of people heading for the slopes, Brits have been urged to look out for their skin and take care.
Last week, ABTA reported that it expected to see over a million Brits hit the ski slopes this year, and warned that practice, and being aware of the limits of an individual's skill were key to avoiding travel insurance claims for injury.
However, according to one expert, injury from falls and collisions are not the only health issue that Brits should look out for on the slopes this festive period.
Kimberley Carter of the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) has said that ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can cause serious damage to people's skin while they are at height. Many will not even think of this eventuality, as they associate sunburn with summer and more tropical destinations.
Ms Carter says that the increased altitude, and the fact that the sun reflects off the white snow means that people are exposed to high levels of UV rays throughout their day on the slopes.
"The amount of UV rays that reach the earth's surface increases by up to five per cent for every 1,000 feet above sea level you are. So for example, a mountain at 10,000 feet receives 50 per cent more UV exposure than an area at sea level."
The expert urged those who are hitting the white stuff this December to make sure that they are protecting themselves with a factor 30 sun cream, and being sure to apply it during the height of the sun's exposure, between 10AM and 3PM.
By Anne Jones
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