Swiss skin lives at altitude. UV radiation rises by roughly ten percent for every thousand metres you climb, fresh snow reflects up to eighty percent of it, and the cold hides the warning signal that makes us seek shade in the lowlands.
Why it matters
UV exposure is the main modifiable risk factor for skin cancer and the main driver of visible ageing: pigmentation, fine lines, loss of elasticity. The damage is cumulative — a sunny ski week counts as much as a beach holiday.
What actually works
A broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 50, applied generously and again after two hours. Lips need their own stick. Sunglasses with UV filter protect the eyes and the thin skin around them. Between eleven and three, seek shade where you can.
Skin that has already seen a lot of sun
Sun damage can be assessed and, to a degree, treated: pigment and vascular lasers for spots and redness, fractional lasers for texture, and above all a yearly skin check to make sure nothing more serious is developing.
