SATURDAY, Jan. 8, 2005 (HealthDayNews) -- When you head outdoors this winter with your skis, skates or snowshoes, don't forget the sunscreen.
"Winter sports enthusiasts can face just as much risk of sunburn as summer sunbathers when exposed skin isn't protected," Noreen Nicol, chief clinical officer at National Jewish Medical and Research Center, said in a prepared statement.
Snow actually increases the impact of the sun's rays by reflecting the ultraviolet radiation (UVR) that causes sunburn. Skiers and snowboarders are especially at risk for sunburn because they're at higher elevations where the thinner atmosphere screens out far less UVR.
Nicol offers the following winter sun safety tips:
More information
The American Cancer Society has more about sunlight and UV radiation.