Typical office day in Frankfurt, 21 degrees, slightly cloudy sky
Is a day cream with sun protection enough for the lunch break outside at the Italian restaurant?
Not for light skin types with winter-pale skin . “If your skin isn’t used to the sun yet, you can get sunburned even during your lunch break despite sun protection factor 15,” says Dr. Patricia Ogilvie, dermatologist in Munich. It is better to apply sunscreen with at least SPF 25 in the morning after day care.
In order not to be so pale, I want to go to the solarium once a week. Does that hurt?
You probably won’t get a sunburn. But it’s still bad for your skin. “The UV-A power of modern devices can breed wrinkles and pigment spots in later years,” warns Dr. Ogilvie. The sun is shining directly on my office window.
Do I have to protect myself here too?
The short-wave UV-B rays cannot penetrate the window glass, but the long-wave UV-A rays, which cause premature skin aging, can. In direct sunlight, lower the blinds if possible or apply day care or make-up with sun protection. Good to know: If you cycle to work in summer, you should also protect your hands with sunscreen or cycling gloves. The UV rays hit the back of the hand almost vertically – risk of pigment spots!
Jogging on Sylt, 24 degrees, alternating sun and clouds
Isn’t sun protection of 30 on the North Sea a bit exaggerated?
Don’t underestimate the radiation at sea. “It’s enhanced by the reflection of the water and the light-colored sand. Protection factor 30 and higher is not too much. You will still get a tan – just slower and healthier,” says dermatologist Dr. Stefan Duve from Munich.
How do I avoid blinking lines around my eyes when the sun is very glaring?
Table of Contents
Abbreviations all about the sun – the mini encyclopedia
UV B short-wave rays. They can cause sunburn
UV A long-wave rays. They lead to early wrinkles
UV filters They protect against sun damage. The UV-A protection should be at least one third of the UV-B sun protection factor
UVA If you see this symbol on the tube/packaging of your sunscreen, the product meets the most important protection requirement (see keyword UV filter)
Before exercising, it is better to apply a water- and sweat-resistant product with little fat, e.g. B. gels or sprays. Good to know: In the past, chemical sunscreen filters needed around half an hour after application before they were fully effective. Today, modern broadband filters such as Mexoplex or Mexoryl provide immediate protection. Just like mineral filters. Important: reapply often.Strolling through Venice, 30 degrees, sun with cloudsI always wear make-up with a sun protection factor of 15. Is that enough for midsummer in the city?
“Make-up with sun protection factor 15 usually only has a low UV-A protection of 5. That is not enough as effective protection against skin aging,” says Dr. Marina Scheler, dermatologist at the Jungbrunnen Clinic in Bonn. Better: apply a sun protection product under the make-up. Or use a tinted sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 25 or higher.Does a lipstick protect against the sun’s rays?
plug e.g. B. Shea butter or vitamin E included, provides minimal protection with an SPF of around 4. It is better to apply a care stick with a higher protection factor under the lip color.
Can I wear my favorite perfume in the sun?
To be on the safe side, preferably not directly on the skin. “Certain ingredients such as bergamot, but also coumarin or vanillin can lead to hyperpigmentation of the skin,” warns Dr. Ogilvie. Better spray the scent on your hair. Good to know: Be careful with creams and peelings that contain retinol or fruit acids. They can sometimes make skin more sensitive to the sun. It is best to use it in the evening or apply a sunscreen with at least a sun protection factor of 40.
Sunburn?
Excursion in the sunshine
Island tour on Mallorca, 31 degrees, bright sunshine
With a t-shirt I’m protected from the sun, right?
Unfortunately not, because a standard white cotton t-shirt only offers sun protection that is roughly equivalent to sun protection factor 3. Dark or colored textiles and more densely woven fabrics such as linen provide better protection. But to be on the safe side, also wear sunscreen underneath – e.g. B. Grease-free transparent sprays that do not stick.
Air conditioner on, window closed. Do the sun’s rays also penetrate through the car windows?
It depends. The windshield usually consists of two panes of glass between which a UV-absorbing film has been glued. Hardly any radiation gets through. The side windows made of single glass are different: They let around 50 percent of the UVA rays and some UVB through.
Apply a thick layer of cream in the morning – is that enough for the whole day?
Unfortunately not! Because e.g. B. the abrasion by sand or textiles makes the protective film porous. “The full effectiveness of a sun protection product is only maintained if you reapply every two hours. Even better every hour in the direct sun on the beach,” advises Dr. duve Good to know: Contrary to popular belief, reapplying cream does not extend the protection time.
Lazing around at the beach in the Seychelles, 35 degrees, shimmering heat
Everyone here is nice and brown except me. Does a self-tanner actually protect against UV rays?
In the meantime, there are actually self-tanners with light protection filters, e.g. E.g. a factor of 15. But that is definitely not enough in tropical regions. Therefore: Apply self-tanner in the evening and apply a high sun protection filter in the morning.
Despite UV protection, my skin is red in the evening. What helps best?
An after-sun lotion rather than normal body milk, because it contains skin-soothing active ingredients such as aloe vera, calendula or bisabolol. “For more redness, I recommend combining one to two aspirin tablets with a hydrocortisone lotion to reduce inflammation,” says Dr. Stefan Duve.
My sensitive skin does not tolerate sun products well. What now?
Try using purely mineral UV filters, which fortunately no longer cause the unsightly whitening effect on the skin. “If you suffer from a so-called polymorphic light eruption, medical pre-irradiation of the skin by a dermatologist often helps,” says Dr. Ogilvie. Good to know: It’s better to use sunscreen instead of making a mess. You need around 50 ml from head to toe. If you take significantly less, the stated SPF is also much lower.
Interview: sun protection expert Dr. Marina Scheler
3 questions for Dr. Marina Scheler, dermatologist and senior physician at the Jungbrunnen Clinic in Bonn
Tolfioow: UV-A and UV-B rays damage the skin. But do the warming infrared rays in the sunlight also age the skin?
dr Scheler: Infrared-A radiation in particular can penetrate deeper into the skin than UVA and thus decisively promotes skin aging. Under the influence of IR-A, the body forms more free radicals and releases more matrix metalloproteinase-1 – which breaks down the collagen fibers in the connective tissue. This leads to wrinkles and loss of elasticity. To protect against infrared rays in relation to skin aging, e.g. B. Sun products with antioxidants such as vitamin E.
Will there soon be new forms of sun protection – for example from the inside?
Already today you can get capsules to swallow, which are an additional protection to the sun cream. An Australian company has developed a peptide hormone called Melanotan-1 that is injected. It stimulates the formation of melanin, thus promoting the tan and protecting against radiation. In Italy, the active ingredient is approved as a drug for skin cancer prophylaxis. However, such developments will not replace external light protection any time soon.
Would we look younger if we could completely protect ourselves from the sun?
Yes! The skin also ages for genetic reasons, but the signs of photoaging such as wrinkles, pigment spots or dilated capillaries would appear to a much lesser extent.
