10 tips for sunny days

In summer, you should follow a few rules of conduct when staying outdoors for a long time. Otherwise, you can quickly get sunburned. What do you have to consider with sunscreen, what role does skin type play, and when should you refresh sunscreen? We answer these and other questions below.

1. Get used to the sun slowly.

Please don’t overdo it with sunbathing in spring: After all, your skin has hardly had any sun exposure all winter and has to get used to the higher intensity of UV radiation again. The skin’s protection builds up slowly, so you should protect yourself the first time you sunbathe by wearing light clothing and sunscreen with a sufficiently high sun protection factor.

The so-called light callus builds up if the skin gets regular sun exposure again. This is a thickening of the corneal layer, through which the UV-B radiation can be better filtered. In addition, the skin pigment melanin is formed, which protects the cells from damage.

Nevertheless, it would help if you continued to use sunscreen to protect your skin optimally from the sun. The protection provided by the light callus only corresponds to a sun protection factor of 5.

 

2. Use enough sunscreen

When applying sunscreen to your skin, could you not skimp on it? Otherwise, the sun protection factor specified in the cream will not be achieved. An adult needs about 36 grams of sunscreen to protect the entire body adequately. This corresponds to about a serving of three tablespoons. With particular care, you should apply cream to sensitive areas such as ears, lips, nose, décolleté, neck, shoulders and the top of the foot.

In addition to sunscreen, appropriate clothing also protects us from the sun. Dark, tightly woven garments offer better protection than light-coloured ones. You should wear a short-sleeved T-shirt and shorts, especially in the sunlight. Unique UV textiles that provide an exceptionally high level of security can be recommended for longer stays in the sun. This is a good choice, especially for more minor children.

3. Apply the cream at a good time.

Do not wait until you are lying in the sun to apply sunscreen, but preferably before you step out the door. So you are immediately protected when you go outside.

In addition, some sunscreens need a specific start-up time before effectively filtering the sun’s rays. Creams with chemical filters should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure. Nowadays, however, there are also sunscreens with a mineral filter that offer immediate protection.

 

4. Don’t stay in the sun for too long.

The skin’s protection time indicates how long you can stay in the sun without sunscreen. It primarily depends on the skin type: Lighter types, for example, have a self-protection time of only ten minutes. With darker skin types, on the other hand, it can be more than half an hour up to 90 minutes.

The self-protection time can be extended by using sunscreen. You can find out how long you are protected by multiplying your skin’s protection time in minutes by the sun protection factor of your sunscreen. To be on the safe side, however, only two-thirds of this period should be used. No further exposure to the sun should then take place on the same day.

5. Also, apply lotion in the shade.

Although solar radiation is lower in the shade than in the sun, you are not protected: around 50 per cent of the UV light still hits the skin in the shade. Therefore, sunscreen with a sufficiently high sun protection factor is also essential here.

 Incidentally, it is advisable to apply lotion carefully in the shade and when the sky is cloudy because a large part of the UV radiation penetrates the earth despite the clouds; sunburn can quickly occur without sun protection, especially in southern countries.

6. Pay attention to UV-A and UV-B protection.

Your sunscreen should protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Make sure that both are explicitly stated on the packaging.

UV-A light provides an immediate but short-term tan. Although the radiation does not cause any visible damage to the skin, it does increase the risk of developing skin cancer, just like UV-B radiation. UV-B light ensures a longer-lasting tan and the build-up of sun protection calluses. The radiation is also responsible for the development of sunburn.

 

7. Avoid the midday sun.

During midday, i.e. between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., preferably between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., you should avoid the sun in summer. During this time, the radiation is particularly intense – sometimes, the sun shines 150 times more intensely than in the morning and evening. This can quickly lead to sunburn. Instead, use the somewhat weaker sun in the morning or late afternoon to sunbathe.

8. Extra protection on the water

If you are lying in the swimming pool, at the quarry pond or on the beach, you should carefully apply sun lotion to your skin. The water reflects the UV light, which significantly increases the radiation.

Prudent sun protection is also necessary for the mountains: UV radiation increases by up to ten per cent for every 1,000 meters of altitude.

9. Protect head and eyes.

If you will be in the sun for a long time, wear a hat. This not only prevents sunburn on the scalp but also prevents further heat damage such as sunstroke.

When it comes to sunglasses, you should ensure they protect your eyes from UV radiation. Otherwise, the radiation can cause permanent damage to the cornea and retina. Therefore, when buying, pay attention to information such as “100 per cent UV protection”, “UV-400”, and the “CE mark” valid within the European Union.

 

10. After-cream during sports

While sunbathing, you should refresh the sunscreen about every two hours. Swimming in water, drying off with a towel or sweating during sports reduces the protective effect of the sunscreen.

However, you can no longer increase the protective effect by reapplying cream: You cannot achieve a sun protection factor of 30 by rubbing yourself three times with a cream with a sun protection factor 10.