CDC Reminds Americans: Sun Protection Is a Year-Round Necessity

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reminding the public that sun protection is a year-round responsibility, not just a summer chore. Ultra­violet (UV) radiation from the sun and artificial sources—including tanning beds and certain lamps—can damage skin even on cloudy or cool days.

The agency notes that almost all UV radiation reaching the earth’s surface is UVA, which penetrates deep into the skin and remains fairly constant throughout the year. UVB, responsible for sunburn, also reaches the ground, while UVC is absorbed by the atmosphere. Both UVA and UVB contribute to skin cancer, premature aging, and eye damage.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and the deadliest form, melanoma, is largely caused by UV exposure. Short-term overexposure leads to sunburn; over time, it accelerates wrinkles and raises cancer risk. The CDC stresses that protection—shade, clothing, hats, and broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher—should be used daily.

Why UV Exposure Is a Risk Even Beyond the Summer Months

The CDC’s renewed emphasis on year-round protection reflects an often-overlooked fact: UV radiation does not take a winter break. Because UVA is relatively steady across seasons and can pass through clouds and glass, cumulative exposure adds up even for people who rarely sunbathe.

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The Year-Round Reality of UVA Radiation

UVA rays penetrate deeper than UVB and are the main driver of photoaging—the premature wrinkles and age spots that appear long after exposure. Since UVA is present from sunrise to sunset, not just during the midday hours when UVB is strongest, a cloudy morning commute or a walk in late afternoon still counts toward lifetime UV dose. This is why the CDC frames sun protection as an everyday habit, not a beach-day extra.

Medication and Sun Sensitivity: An Overlooked Factor

The advisory also highlights that certain oral and topical medicines—antibiotics, birth control pills, and benzoyl peroxide acne treatments, among others—can increase the skin’s sensitivity to UV in all skin types. People using these products may burn more quickly or suffer greater long-term harm without realizing they are at elevated risk. Combined with the fact that basal and squamous cell cancers most often appear on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms—the body parts most exposed day to day—the case for year-round protection becomes even stronger.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Skin All Year

  • Use broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) every day. Choose a product that blocks both UVA and UVB rays, and reapply if you are outdoors for extended periods.
  • Seek shade, particularly between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UV rays are strongest—even in winter or overcast conditions.
  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat and protective clothing. A hat that shades the face, ears, and neck can significantly reduce exposure to the areas where skin cancers are most common.
  • Check your medications. If you take antibiotics, birth control pills, benzoyl peroxide products, or other photosensitizing drugs, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about extra sun precautions.
  • Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps. The CDC identifies artificial UV sources as a significant health risk, linked to the same cancers and skin damage as natural sunlight.