{"id":7018,"date":"2026-07-31T09:42:45","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T16:42:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/?p=7018"},"modified":"2026-07-31T09:44:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T16:44:12","slug":"closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/news\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Closer to the Sun: The Science Behind High-Altitude UV Exposure and Skin Cancer Risk"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Colorado\u2019s high country, sunshine is part of the lifestyle. Whether&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;trail&nbsp;running above&nbsp;treeline&nbsp;or skiing Vail\u2019s iconic Back Bowls, those bluebird days are why people love living and recreating in the mountains.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But&nbsp;there\u2019s&nbsp;a downside to all that sunshine.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At high altitude, ultraviolet (UV) radiation is significantly stronger than at sea level.&nbsp;\u201cColorado has higher incidence of skin cancer because of greater UV exposure at elevation and a population that tends to enjoy being outdoors,\u201d&nbsp;explains <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/acerca-de\/directorio-de-doctores\/alex-menter\/\" data-type=\"staff\" data-id=\"4329\">Dr. Alex Menter<\/a>, a medical oncologist at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shawcancercenter.org\/\">Centro de C\u00e1ncer Shaw<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No, you&nbsp;shouldn\u2019t&nbsp;hide inside. Instead, play safer outside with these sun-smart strategies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thin Air, Strong Rays&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When people think of high-altitude destinations, they often think about thinning air and gasping for breath. What many people&nbsp;don\u2019t&nbsp;realize is that the same thinner atmosphere provides less protection from the sun\u2019s harmful UV rays.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At&nbsp;9,000 feet, UV radiation can be&nbsp;nearly twice&nbsp;as intense as it is at sea level. With less atmosphere to absorb and scatter UV rays, more radiation reaches our skin.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur body is always trying to repair itself faster than it can break down,\u201d&nbsp;explains <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/acerca-de\/directorio-de-doctores\/melissa-omeara\/\" data-type=\"staff\" data-id=\"4410\">Dra. Melissa O\u2019Meara<\/a>, medical director of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/servicios\/medicina-de-conserjeria\/\" data-type=\"service\" data-id=\"4759\">concierge medicine at Vail Health<\/a>.&nbsp;\u201cIt does&nbsp;a pretty good&nbsp;job, but that can still leave us slowly accumulating damage to cellular DNA over many years. The more UV exposure we have, the harder our body&nbsp;has to&nbsp;work to repair the damage.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While&nbsp;a sunburn&nbsp;may fade after a few days, the effects of UV exposure can linger much longer. Chronic exposure accelerates skin aging, contributing to wrinkles, loss of elasticity, dyspigmentation and cell death.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur cells use DNA as a blueprint that codes all the functions of the cell,\u201d&nbsp;O\u2019Meara says. UV radiation can damage DNA to the point that it&nbsp;can\u2019t&nbsp;function properly.&nbsp;\u201cOur bodies have systems to detect and repair these kinds of issues, but UV radiation can blunt those systems by causing inflammation and by locally suppressing the immune system.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Know the Signs&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Skin cancer is common, but early detection dramatically improves outcomes. There are three primary types:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Basal Cell Carcinoma: Most common and&nbsp;slow-growing.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Faster growing, but often highly treatable.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Melanoma: The most aggressive and potentially dangerous form.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early detection is one of the best ways to protect your health. If you notice a suspicious spot, see your health care provider and get checked.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Menter recommends regularly checking your skin and using the ABCDE Rule to&nbsp;identify&nbsp;possible signs&nbsp;of melanoma:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A = Asymmetry: One half&nbsp;doesn\u2019t&nbsp;match the other.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>B = Border: Edges are uneven or irregular.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>C = Color: Multiple colors or uneven coloring.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>D = Diameter: Larger than a pencil eraser.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>E = Evolving: Changing in size,&nbsp;shape&nbsp;or color.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For mountain residents and outdoor enthusiasts, annual skin checks should be considered part of routine preventative care.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Snow Effect&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many people are diligent about sunscreen in July but forget about it in January.&nbsp;That\u2019s&nbsp;a mistake.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCloud cover reduces more of the visible light spectrum than it does&nbsp;of&nbsp;the UV spectrum. This means that a cloudy day will look dark to you, but it may still have a significant amount of UV radiation,\u201d&nbsp;O\u2019Meara explains.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Menter offers a simple rule of thumb:&nbsp;\u201cIf you can still see a shadow, then you\u2019re getting UV exposure.\u201d&nbsp;That means&nbsp;it\u2019s&nbsp;time to cover up.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Winter brings an&nbsp;additional&nbsp;challenge. Snow reflects UV radiation at you like a giant mirror. Snow and ice can reflect up to 85% of UV rays, effectively exposing you from above and below.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The takeaway? UV exposure is a year-round concern in the mountains, not just a summer one.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smarter Protection&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Avoiding the outdoors&nbsp;isn\u2019t&nbsp;the answer. Time outside supports physical health, mental well-being&nbsp;and an active lifestyle. The goal is to learn how to enjoy the mountains while reducing your skin cancer risk at altitude.&nbsp;Experts recommend a layered approach to protection.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBe mindful of when peak UV times are. Morning and late afternoon sunshine pose a reduced risk of burning,\u201d&nbsp;Menter explains.&nbsp;\u201cThink of the UV index to prevent burns and make sure you\u2019re using sun protection.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few simple habits can make a significant difference:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use broad-spectrum (UVA &amp; UVB) SPF 30 or higher sunscreen.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reapply every two hours.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Don\u2019t&nbsp;forget&nbsp;lips, ears,&nbsp;hands&nbsp;and the back of the legs.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Choose wide-brim hats and UV-blocking&nbsp;sunglasses when possible.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Seek shade during peak hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another highly effective strategy is UPF clothing. Unlike sunscreen, UPF-rated fabrics&nbsp;don\u2019t&nbsp;need&nbsp;reapplication&nbsp;and&nbsp;you\u2019ll&nbsp;cover those hard-to-reach spots on your back. Sun hoodies and neck gaiters have become increasingly popular for runners,&nbsp;cyclists&nbsp;and hikers who like to spend long hours outdoors.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Lifetime Investment&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most mountain residents&nbsp;wouldn\u2019t&nbsp;skip exercise, annual&nbsp;checkups&nbsp;or a healthy diet. Skin health deserves the same level of attention, so prioritize year-round sun protection.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reality is that sun damage accumulates over decades, but small daily habits can have a meaningful impact on long-term skin health. Your future self, and your skin, will thank you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"service-providers-grid container\" style=\"--padding: 4.8rem;\">\n\t\t\t<h3>Conoce a los Expertos<\/h3>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"card-grid__row row flex-wrap cols-3\" style=\"--col-count: 4;\">\n\t\t\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/about\/doctor-directory\/alex-menter\/\" class=\"post-card-link\">\n\t<article class=\"post-card post-card-grid__card post-index__entry color-scheme-1 mobile-align-left desktop-align-left has-image has-content has-heading news-and-resource-card post-card--small\" style=\"\u2013-card-padding: 2rem; -\u2013heading-height: 5; \u2013-box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, .05); --heading-height: 8;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"post-card-grid__card-inner\" style=\"--grid: auto clamp(10px, 8vw, 600px) 1fr; --grid-tablet: auto clamp(10px, 11vw, 600px) 1fr; --grid-lg: auto clamp(10px, 10vw, 600px) 1fr\">\n\t\t\t<!-- Image -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-card-grid__card-image staff\" style=\"--image-height: 24rem;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='image-wrapper'><img width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Headshot_Dr_Menter_Web.png\" class=\"optimized-image no-icon post-card-grid-image\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"object-position: 50% 50%; height: 240px;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Headshot_Dr_Menter_Web.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Headshot_Dr_Menter_Web-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Headshot_Dr_Menter_Web-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Headshot_Dr_Menter_Web-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Headshot_Dr_Menter_Web-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Headshot_Dr_Menter_Web-12x12.png 12w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Category Badges (for news-and-resource only, overlaid on image) -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Tag Badge (for staff, at bottom-left of image) -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .post-card-grid__card-image -->\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<!-- Heading and subheading -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-card-grid__card-heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Staff name first, then title below -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlex Menter\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"subheader staff-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMD\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Staff leadership position -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Staff specialties -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"staff-specialty\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Especialidad:<\/strong> C\u00e1ncer, Hematolog\u00eda, Oncolog\u00eda M\u00e9dica\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<!-- Card Content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-card-grid__card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-card-grid__read-more\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"button button--secondary button--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAprende m\u00e1s\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M4.66667 11.3333L11.3333 4.66667M11.3333 4.66667H4.66667M11.3333 4.66667V11.3333\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .post-card-grid__card-content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .post-card-grid__card-inner -->\n\t<\/article>\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/about\/doctor-directory\/melissa-omeara\/\" class=\"post-card-link\">\n\t<article class=\"post-card post-card-grid__card post-index__entry color-scheme-1 mobile-align-left desktop-align-left has-image has-content has-heading news-and-resource-card post-card--small\" style=\"\u2013-card-padding: 2rem; -\u2013heading-height: 5; \u2013-box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, .05); --heading-height: 8;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"post-card-grid__card-inner\" style=\"--grid: auto clamp(10px, 8vw, 600px) 1fr; --grid-tablet: auto clamp(10px, 11vw, 600px) 1fr; --grid-lg: auto clamp(10px, 10vw, 600px) 1fr\">\n\t\t\t<!-- Image -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-card-grid__card-image staff\" style=\"--image-height: 24rem;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='image-wrapper'><img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MelissaOMeara-CMM-800x800_reg.jpg\" class=\"optimized-image no-icon post-card-grid-image\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"object-position: 50% 50%; height: 240px;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MelissaOMeara-CMM-800x800_reg.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MelissaOMeara-CMM-800x800_reg-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MelissaOMeara-CMM-800x800_reg-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MelissaOMeara-CMM-800x800_reg-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MelissaOMeara-CMM-800x800_reg-12x12.jpg 12w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Category Badges (for news-and-resource only, overlaid on image) -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Tag Badge (for staff, at bottom-left of image) -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-card-grid__card-tags staff-card-tags\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"tag-badge tag-badge--primary\">Aceptando pacientes nuevos<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .post-card-grid__card-image -->\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<!-- Heading and subheading -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-card-grid__card-heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Staff name first, then title below -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMelissa O\u2019Meara\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"subheader staff-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMD\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Staff leadership position -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Staff specialties -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"staff-specialty\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Especialidad:<\/strong> Medicina de Concierge, Medicina Interna\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<!-- Card Content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-card-grid__card-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"post-card-grid__read-more\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"button button--secondary button--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAprende m\u00e1s\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M4.66667 11.3333L11.3333 4.66667M11.3333 4.66667H4.66667M11.3333 4.66667V11.3333\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .post-card-grid__card-content -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .post-card-grid__card-inner -->\n\t<\/article>\n<\/a>\n\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Colorado\u2019s high country, sunshine is part of the lifestyle. Whether&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;trail&nbsp;running above&nbsp;treeline&nbsp;or skiing Vail\u2019s iconic Back Bowls, those bluebird days are why people love living and recreating in the mountains.&nbsp; But&nbsp;there\u2019s&nbsp;a downside to all that sunshine.&nbsp;&nbsp; At high altitude, ultraviolet (UV) radiation is significantly stronger than at sea level.&nbsp;\u201cColorado has higher incidence of skin cancer&#8230;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7019,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[242],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Closer to the Sun: The Science Behind High-Altitude UV Exposure and Skin Cancer Risk | Vail Health<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When people think of high-altitude destinations, they often think about thinning air and gasping for breath. What many people\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0realize is that the same thinner atmosphere provides less protection from the sun\u2019s harmful UV rays.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/noticias\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_MX\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Closer to the Sun: The Science Behind High-Altitude UV Exposure and Skin Cancer Risk | Vail Health\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When people think of high-altitude destinations, they often think about thinning air and gasping for breath. What many people\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0realize is that the same thinner atmosphere provides less protection from the sun\u2019s harmful UV rays.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/noticias\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Vail Health\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/VailHealth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-31T16:42:45+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-31T16:44:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Elevating-Health-August-SunExposure.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1001\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"amiller\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"amiller\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/news\\\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/news\\\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"amiller\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0fefd2b63163ed9d36a35b3d280ec578\"},\"headline\":\"Closer to the Sun: The Science Behind High-Altitude UV Exposure and Skin Cancer Risk\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-31T16:42:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-31T16:44:12+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/news\\\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":988,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/news\\\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/Elevating-Health-August-SunExposure.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Health &amp; Wellness\"],\"inLanguage\":\"es-MX\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/news\\\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/news\\\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\\\/\",\"name\":\"Closer to the Sun: The Science Behind High-Altitude UV Exposure and Skin Cancer Risk | Vail Health\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/news\\\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/news\\\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/Elevating-Health-August-SunExposure.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-31T16:42:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-31T16:44:12+00:00\",\"description\":\"When people think of high-altitude destinations, they often think about thinning air and gasping for breath. What many people\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0realize is that the same thinner atmosphere provides less protection from the sun\u2019s harmful UV rays.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/news\\\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"es-MX\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/news\\\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"es-MX\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/news\\\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/Elevating-Health-August-SunExposure.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/Elevating-Health-August-SunExposure.png\",\"width\":1500,\"height\":1001},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/news\\\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Closer to the Sun: The Science Behind High-Altitude UV Exposure and Skin Cancer Risk\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/\",\"name\":\"Vail Health\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"es-MX\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Vail Health\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"es-MX\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/layouthorizontal-colorfull.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/layouthorizontal-colorfull.png\",\"width\":341,\"height\":64,\"caption\":\"Vail Health\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/VailHealth\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0fefd2b63163ed9d36a35b3d280ec578\",\"name\":\"amiller\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"es-MX\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f665f5071a1baa491798ee6b8569f4f29358ae735f81f38c0097c7129c5ee426?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f665f5071a1baa491798ee6b8569f4f29358ae735f81f38c0097c7129c5ee426?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f665f5071a1baa491798ee6b8569f4f29358ae735f81f38c0097c7129c5ee426?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"amiller\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.vailhealth.org\\\/es\\\/news\\\/author\\\/amiller\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Closer to the Sun: The Science Behind High-Altitude UV Exposure and Skin Cancer Risk | Vail Health","description":"When people think of high-altitude destinations, they often think about thinning air and gasping for breath. What many people\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0realize is that the same thinner atmosphere provides less protection from the sun\u2019s harmful UV rays.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/noticias\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/","og_locale":"es_MX","og_type":"article","og_title":"Closer to the Sun: The Science Behind High-Altitude UV Exposure and Skin Cancer Risk | Vail Health","og_description":"When people think of high-altitude destinations, they often think about thinning air and gasping for breath. What many people\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0realize is that the same thinner atmosphere provides less protection from the sun\u2019s harmful UV rays.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/noticias\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/","og_site_name":"Vail Health","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/VailHealth\/","article_published_time":"2026-07-31T16:42:45+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-07-31T16:44:12+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1500,"height":1001,"url":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Elevating-Health-August-SunExposure.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"amiller","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"amiller","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/news\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/news\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/"},"author":{"name":"amiller","@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/#\/schema\/person\/0fefd2b63163ed9d36a35b3d280ec578"},"headline":"Closer to the Sun: The Science Behind High-Altitude UV Exposure and Skin Cancer Risk","datePublished":"2026-07-31T16:42:45+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-31T16:44:12+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/news\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/"},"wordCount":988,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/news\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Elevating-Health-August-SunExposure.png","articleSection":["Health &amp; Wellness"],"inLanguage":"es-MX"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/news\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/","url":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/news\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/","name":"Closer to the Sun: The Science Behind High-Altitude UV Exposure and Skin Cancer Risk | Vail Health","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/news\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/news\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Elevating-Health-August-SunExposure.png","datePublished":"2026-07-31T16:42:45+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-31T16:44:12+00:00","description":"When people think of high-altitude destinations, they often think about thinning air and gasping for breath. What many people\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0realize is that the same thinner atmosphere provides less protection from the sun\u2019s harmful UV rays.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/news\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"es-MX","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/news\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"es-MX","@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/news\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Elevating-Health-August-SunExposure.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Elevating-Health-August-SunExposure.png","width":1500,"height":1001},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/news\/closer-to-the-sun-the-science-behind-high-altitude-uv-exposure-and-skin-cancer-risk\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Closer to the Sun: The Science Behind High-Altitude UV Exposure and Skin Cancer Risk"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/","name":"Vail Salud","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"es-MX"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/#organization","name":"Vail Salud","url":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"es-MX","@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/layouthorizontal-colorfull.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/layouthorizontal-colorfull.png","width":341,"height":64,"caption":"Vail Health"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/VailHealth\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/#\/schema\/person\/0fefd2b63163ed9d36a35b3d280ec578","name":"molinero","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"es-MX","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f665f5071a1baa491798ee6b8569f4f29358ae735f81f38c0097c7129c5ee426?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f665f5071a1baa491798ee6b8569f4f29358ae735f81f38c0097c7129c5ee426?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f665f5071a1baa491798ee6b8569f4f29358ae735f81f38c0097c7129c5ee426?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"amiller"},"url":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/news\/author\/amiller\/"}]}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Vail Health","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7018"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7018\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7046,"href":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7018\/revisions\/7046"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7019"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vailhealth.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}