Sierra Summits gets the word out: sunburn still a risk in cooler seasons

RENO Skin care company Sierra Summits, which makes High Altitude Adventure Sunblock, is reminding consumers of the importance of using sunblock in the fall and winter.

“During the winter, even cautious outdoor enthusiasts may unknowingly put their skin at risk by leaving it unprotected or under-protected,” sated Sierra Summits’ founder and chief executive officer Jennifer Rice. “Cool weather may lull people into thinking they don?t need sunscreen when, in fact, UV rays are intensified by now and high altitudes.”

According to the company, snow reflects 80 percent of UV rays and UV intensity increases by 10 percent every 1,000-foot increase in elevation. In the mountains or snow, skin can burn more severely in less time. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying sunscreen when in the sun for more than 20 minutes.

Seeing a need in the marketplace for an affordable formula that protects skin under intense, high-altitude conditions, Rice designed the Sierra Summits High Altitude Adventure Sunblock. The product promises to offer multiple hour, broad spectrum, high-altitude and photostable protection against UVB and UVA rays. The product is priced at $7.95 for a 1.5-ounce tube and $25 for an 8-ounce tube.