Here are the 10 most important tips for optimum sun protection!

 

1. sun protection is always and everywhere the order of the day: on the balcony as well as in the mountains, by the sea, in the stadium and at the outdoor pool.

Sun protection is important for everyone: kindergarten children, school excursionists, street café visitors, recreational and professional athletes and, of course, for people who work outside.

And sun protection is not only in season in summer: in winter, the snow reflects the rays; wind and sub-zero temperatures make the sun appear even more intense. In spring, the soothing warming rays of the sun hit the sun-warmed winter skin with rapidly increasing intensity. In summer, you are not protected from UV rays even when the sky is overcast.

 

2. the sun shines even in the shade! Reflection from water and sand increases the risk of sunburn.

In the shade, almost half of the direct sunlight still reaches the skin. The stronger the UV exposure, the shorter the skin's own protection time. The intensity of UV radiation increases from the Earth's poles towards the equator and rises with altitude above sea level: by around 10 % per 1,000 metres of altitude. Water, whether from the sea, lake or swimming pool, reflects the sun's rays and further increases the skin's UV exposure by up to 90 %.

 

3. children's skin reacts extremely sensitively to the sun. It needs the best possible protection!

Children's natural skin protection mechanisms are not yet fully developed. Nevertheless, children spend more time outdoors and in the sun than adults. By the time a child is 18 years old, their skin has already received an average of 75% of their lifetime dose of UV radiation. Every sunburn in childhood increases the risk of developing skin cancer later on. Follow the advice of dermatologists and do not expose babies and toddlers to direct sunlight at all during the first twelve months of their lives! From the age of two, children can go out in the sun - but only for short periods and not at lunchtime. Arm your child with long-sleeved clothing and sun hats beforehand. Special UV protective clothing for children is ideal. Apply a thick layer of cream to everything that is not covered by fabric - with a special children's cream and at least SPF 30, preferably SPF 50.

​

4 Avoid the sun when it is burning from the sky! This is especially true at lunchtime.

UV radiation is strongest everywhere between 11am and 3pm. Give your skin a break during this time and avoid the sun. The morning and afternoon hours or the evening are much better for sport, walks, gardening and anything else you want to do outdoors!

​

5. clothing is the best protection against sun damage. A sun hat or cap protects your head and face!

Textiles effectively shield the skin from UV radiation, provided they are thick enough and tightly woven. A transparent fabric, through which some visible light can pass, also lets UV light through. Please note: cotton absorbs UV-B rays, which cause sunburn, very poorly; polyester fabrics, on the other hand, provide relatively good protection. Colour and cut also play a role: wide and dark clothing protects better than tight and light-coloured clothing.

​

6. your eyes also need protection. Put on a pair of sunglasses!

If you don't protect your eyes from UV radiation, you risk permanent damage to the cornea and retina. The short-wave UV-B component of sunlight attacks the cornea and conjunctiva in particular. When buying glasses, think about the size of the lenses: with small, round lenses, there is a risk of UV light hitting the eyes from the side. You should also pay attention to the colour of the lenses: a brown or grey tint is ideal. Sunglasses that offer good protection are labelled with information such as ‘UV-400’, ‘100 percent UV’ or the ‘CE’ mark.

7. apply sunscreen to uncovered areas of skin - according to your skin type

according to your skin type!

The sun protection factor (SPF) indicates how well a sun cream or sun milk protects against UV-B radiation. A high SPF stands for a high level of protection, a low SPF/SPF for a lower level of protection. On the products you will find both the SPF/SPF as a numerical value and the corresponding protection class: there is basic protection as well as medium, high and very high protection. High protection is the first choice for sensitive skin types that are prone to sunburn (at least SPF 30). For less sensitive skin types, the medium protection class (around SPF 20) is sufficient. If in doubt, choose higher protection and don't stay in the sun for too long! Incidentally, all modern sunscreens available on the market include a suitably high level of UV-A protection.

 

8 There is no such thing as complete sun protection!

Sunscreens are not a licence to stay in the sun indefinitely! Even if you apply a lot of sunscreen with high sun protection factors, you should be careful in the sun: no product can completely stop UV exposure! A certain dose of UV rays always reaches the skin. Important: Get out of the sun before your skin starts to redden.

9. moisturise generously and in good time - before you go outside! 

If you apply sun cream indoors, your skin will already be protected when you go outside. Sun cream, sun milk or sun spray don't need any lead time to work! Apply generously! This is the only way to achieve the full protective effect. Don't forget your ears, nose, upper lip, scalp, décolleté, neck, shoulders and the backs of your feet! These ‘sun terraces’ are particularly sensitive to light and most exposed to UV radiation.

 

 

10. don't forget to moisturise regularly, especially during sports and games!
When training or competing, running, cycling or playing ball games, you are often directly exposed to the sun for a particularly long time. Ideally, you should protect yourself beforehand with a high sun protection factor and waterproof products. Regardless of the level of sun protection, you should always reapply your sun cream. Remember: swimming, sweating and drying off, as well as clothing rubbing against the skin, reduces the protective effect.