Sun protection: how to protect skin and eyes properly
Shade, suitable clothing and sunscreen are key to ensuring good protection from UV radiation. But how you use them matters too. Extra caution is needed for children and when taking certain medicines.
Frequently asked questions about sun protection
For effective sun protection, several measures should be combined:
- Avoid direct sun (especially between 11am and 3pm).
- Wear tightly woven, loose-fitting clothing or clothing with UV protection.
- Protect your eyes with sunglasses that offer UV protection.
- Apply sunscreen generously to any skin left uncovered.
Sunscreen should be applied generously: An average adult body needs about 30ml. The sunscreen should also offer a sufficiently high protection factor and be reapplied in the same amount after two to three hours, and after swimming or heavy sweating.
Yes. Even with overcast skies, up to 80% of UV radiation still reaches the skin. In the shade, the skin is also exposed to radiation through scattered light from the sky and reflection from the surroundings.
Certain antibiotics and other medications can make the skin more light-sensitive and trigger skin reactions when combined with UV radiation. It’s best to discuss this with a medical professional. Medications should never be stopped or reduced on your own initiative.
Children’s skin is particularly sensitive to UV radiation. Children should therefore stay in the shade as much as possible and be given extra special protection. Children under one year old should ideally not be exposed to direct sunlight at all.
Protection offered by shade
Staying in the shade – especially between 11am and 3pm – is one of the best. Whether under a tree or sun umbrella, the main thing is that it’s big enough to block lateral sun rays too. Special care should also be taken with sun-reflecting surfaces such as water, sand and snow.
Protect your skin with sunscreen
Sunscreen needs to be applied both when the sun is shining and when the weather is overcast. Even on cloudy days, around 80% of radiation still reaches the skin. In the mountains, by water and in snow, additional caution is required due to the particularly strong UV intensity.
Apply sunscreen correctly
To achieve maximum protection, 2 mg/cm2 of sunscreen should be applied. This is equivalent to about 30ml of sunscreen for an average adult body. It’s best to apply it in two layers. The sun protection factor should also be matched to the conditions: In strong sunlight and for sensitive skin, sunscreen with SPF 50+ is recommended.
Important: Reapply the same amount of sunscreen after two to three hours and after swimming.
These body parts need more protection
The more exposed parts of the body deserve special attention: nose, cheeks, lower lip, neck, ears, backs of the hands and feet. These body parts are at particular risk for developing skin cancer.
Sun protection through clothing
For optimal protection from UV rays, the following clothing and headgear is best:
- Dark clothes protect you better than light clothes and loose are better than tight.
- Tightly woven clothing blocks UV rays better than thin, translucent fabrics.
- Synthetic fibres often provide better protection than natural fibres.
-
Dry clothes let less UV radiation through than wet textiles.
- Clothing with UV protection is specially designed for sun exposure and can sometimes provide good protection in water too.
Always wear sunglasses
The eyes are particularly sensitive to excessive UV radiation and can become permanently damaged. Symptoms can include inflammatory reactions of the cornea or conjunctiva – and the risk of developing cataracts increases. If left untreated, this chronic, progressive clouding of the lens can, in extreme cases, lead to blindness.
Prioritise UV protection over tinted shades
Tint alone doesn't mean UV protection. On the contrary: With tinted glasses that don’t have UV protection, the pupils widen due to the darker tint, and more radiation can reach the eyes. However, sunglasses sold in Europe are legally required to provide UV protection – this is indicated by the CE mark. Otherwise, look for the labels “UV400” or “UV protection”.
Caution with medication and sun
Some medications can increase the skin’s sensitivity to light. Examples include antibiotics from the tetracycline group or St. John's wort products. People taking these medicines react more strongly to UV radiation and should therefore treat sun protection particularly seriously.
Skin reactions caused by medicines
These medications (among others) can cause painful skin reactions when combined with sun exposure:
- acne products
- antibiotics
- cortisone
- hormones (e.g. oestrogen)
- heart and circulation medication (e.g. for high blood pressure)
- antidepressants
- antimalarials
Protect yourself from side effects: 4 tips for you
- Read the package leaflet: when reading through the accompanying leaflet, note the information on “light sensitivity”.
- Check with a medical professional: Before going on holiday, ask your doctor whether your medication is safe to use in the sun.
- Dosage: Don't reduce the dose or stop a medication before consulting a medical professional.
- Correct storage: Protect medication from strong heat and direct sunlight. Excessive temperatures can affect their quality and effectiveness.
Children’s skin is particularly sensitive
Basically, the same rules apply to children as to adults. However, children's skin is particularly vulnerable because it’s thinner and therefore more permeable to UV rays. Sunburn in children can increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. Therefore, clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses and a sun hat with a wide brim are all needed to provide comprehensive protection for children. Children should also apply sunscreen and wear UV-protective clothing even in the shade.
Key rules for babies and children
- Don't expose children under one year of age to direct sunlight.
- Use water-resistant sunscreen with at least SPF 30, preferably SPF 50, and UVA and UVB protection.
- For children up to age two, use sunscreen with a high component of micropigments, which reflect sunlight more effectively.
- Don't use products containing allergens, e.g. perfume.
- Dress children in special UV-protective clothing, which also protects when wet and is therefore also useful as swimwear.
- The use of sunscreen and UV-protective clothing applies even in the shade.
Secured by Google reCAPTCHA to ensure that you are not a bot. Further Information