We all like our powder nice and dry, with big fat flakes…. but the same can’t be said about our skin. Keeping our skin moist and healthy at altitude takes some work. Here are our tips…

Do I need sunscreen at the snow?

Yes! The ultraviolet (UV) radiation is significant greater than at sea level – this is because the atmosphere is thinner and absorbs less UV radiation from the sun. There is a 10-12% increase in UV radiation every 1000m increase in altitude. On top of that, snow is highly reflective. Snow can reflect up to 90% of UV radiation – almost doubling your exposure to UV.

Our skin is the primary defence of the body human body against the elements. High altitude brings hypobaric pressure, low quality of oxygen, very high ultraviolet (UV) radiation and often dry and cold environments, all of which can be very damaging to our skin. On top of this, studies have shown high altitudes can even affect the microbiome for the skin.