2024-02-10 06:49:19
Applying sunscreen daily is a must for skin care. Not just on summer vacation, but all year round.
So if you’re planning a winter vacation, you should definitely pack sunscreen. Even at lower temperatures, UV radiation is present and consistent sun protection is a must.
Because every sunburn increases the risk of cancer.
“Smearing it on may be annoying on the beach or on the ski slopes, but sunscreen is essential,” says dermatologist Dr. Christoph Liebich (56) in conversation with BILD.
He explains what you should pay attention to when sunbathing.
This is how sun protection works on winter holidays
Snow reflects UV rays. This means that in winter you often get solar radiation from above and below. This quickly becomes too much for the skin, especially when skiing or hiking at higher altitudes or sunbathing in a ski hut.
UV protection for the eyes is also important. The sun can damage your eyes even in winter. Here you should always wear sunglasses with UV protection.
The sunscreen ABC from the dermatologist
In order to reduce the risk of treacherous sunburn in summer and winter, dermatologist Dr. Christoph Liebich these tips for sun worshipers.
- Always use a high sun protection factor of 30 to 50
- Avoid midday sun from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m
- Don’t forget your ears, nose and lips when applying cream
- More is more when it comes to sunscreen: use 20 to 25 grams of sunscreen per application (two grams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin)
- Reapply every two to three hours
- For sprays, first spray on your hand, then spread over the skin
- Triple radiation protection: UV-A, UV-B and infrared-A rays
- For children you should always use SPF 50
- Children should also wear a hat, sunglasses and special textile sun protection
You should always wear sunscreen when soaking up the sun
Photo: Bodo Marks/dpa
How much sun is okay
Even if you follow the nine rules, you shouldn’t stay in the blazing sun for too long. Depending on how light or dark your skin is, the skin’s own protection value varies greatly – you can stay in the sun without protection for different periods of time.
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For orientation: There are six skin types from very light to dark. Very fair guys with red hair can stay in the sun for a maximum of ten minutes without sunscreen. People with dark brown skin, on the other hand, up to 90 minutes. By the way, sun sensitivity is the same for men and women.
Dr. Christoph Liebich: “You can quickly and easily calculate how long you can stay in the sun with sunscreen. Multiply your own protection value by the applied sun protection factor.”
Example: The skin of a blonde-haired person has an inherent protection value of around 20 minutes. If you use a cream with SPF 20, you can stay in the sun for a maximum of 400 minutes. “Of course you shouldn’t exhaust these time windows,” emphasizes Dr. Liebich.
It’s also clear that sports like beach volleyball or snowboarding quickly add up to a lot of time. The skin should be adequately cared for, especially with good sunscreen.
No sunscreen for babies
Important: In the first year of life, sun protection creams should be avoided if possible due to baby’s sensitive skin. In addition, babies should generally not be in direct sun! Why is that?
Pediatrician Andreas Wilhelm: “The delicate baby skin is three to five times thinner in the first years of life than in adults. The baby’s own UV protection is just beginning to develop. The cells in baby skin are smaller than in adults and are not as close together. This makes the skin more permeable and susceptible to external stimuli.”
This doesn’t mean that you and your baby should just sit in the booth. On the contrary! Sun and light increase vitamin D release. This so-called sunshine vitamin regulates the hormonal balance and is important for the healthy development of the baby.
That’s why Maxine Lehmann, a freelance midwife with her own practice since 2013, recommends:
“The best sun protection is appropriate clothing: a sun hat with neck protection, long, loose trousers, long-sleeved, loose T-shirts, shoes or baby socks and sunglasses if the child is big enough and does not take them off. We encourage our parents to take advantage of this proven protection against UV rays. The material makes the difference.”
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