Summer sun: the right protection

Protection offered by shade

Although simple to take, protective measures are often carelessly disregarded. 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. This is because 80% of the rays still reach the skin when the sky is overcast. In the mountains, by water and in snow, additional caution is required due to the particularly strong UV intensity.

Apply sunscreen thickly

To achieve maximum protection, 2 mg/cm² of sunscreen must be applied. This is equivalent to about 30 ml of sunscreen for an adult's body.

Reapply the same amount of sunscreen after 2-3 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.

Sensible clothing

For optimal protection from UV rays, the following clothing and headgear is best:

1. Dark clothes protect you better than light clothes and loose are better than tight.
2. Tightly woven clothing blocks UV rays better than thin, translucent fabrics.
3. Artificial fibres provide better protection than natural fibres.
4. Dry clothes let less UV radiation through than wet textiles.
    

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, chronic clouding of the eye lens can lead to blindness.

Prioritise UV protection over tinted shades

Don't use tinted glasses without UV protection, as the dark tint causes the pupils to dilate which allows more radiation to reach the eyes.

Caution with medication and sun

It’s important to know that some medications reduce the protection of sunscreen or increase the skin's sensitivity to light. Examples include antibiotics from the tetracycline group or St. John's wort products.

Painful skin reactions possible

These medications (list not exhaustive) cause painful skin reactions in combination with the sun:

• acne products
• antibiotics
• hormones (e.g. oestrogen)
• heart and circulation medication (e.g. for high blood pressure)
• antidepressants
• antimalarials
  

Protect yourself from side effects: 3 tips for you

1. Read the package leaflet: when reading through the accompanying leaflet, note the information on “light sensitivity”.
2. Consult your doctor: check with your doctor or pharmacy before you go on holiday whether your medication allows you to go in the sun.
3. Dosage: consult your doctor about reducing the dosage of essential medicine.

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. Every sunburn in childhood increases the risk of developing skin cancer later on. 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.