Hints & Infos

  The sun is the base of our existence. Without sunlight, there would be no life on our planet – no plants, no animals and no human beings. When, after a rainy or cold period, the first sunbeams meet our skin, we feel simply happy. The sun does our souls and our bodies well. It drives away blue feelings, makes the skin produce vitamin D and thus build up the bones, and it alleviates skin diseases.

Skin forms a border between the internal body and the external world and protects us against various environmental factors, as for example against the ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the sun. In doing so, the skin can unfortunately sometimes suffer damages.
The radiation intensity of the sunlight is often underestimated, may it shine or be hidden behind clouds, and if you expose yourself to natural or to artificial UV light as for example in a solarium. The problem is - you can neither see nor immediately feel UV light. Too much of it is bad for the skin: it can cause sunburn, reactions of hypersensitivity and even skin ageing or skin cancer.

More about ultraviolet (UV-) radiation.

UV radiation does have an impact on the skin. Its strength depends on the individual skin type which is genetically determined. Every person is different, and so is everybody’s skin. Geographical situation, altitude, weather, environment, season of the year, time of the day as well as intensity and duration of the sun bath play an important role in this.

More about: Impacts and Myths.

But don’t worry: if you observe some rules, you will be able to enjoy the sun untroubled. One of the rules is, for example, to stay in the shadow during midday (between 10 am and 4 pm), as these are the hours when the UV values are highest. Another effective measure is to protect the skin with adequate clothing and sunscreen. Learn to assess your personal risk: Which skin type am I? How much sun can I endure without damage? Try to adapt “sun-wise” behaviour - it’s simply a question of attitude. If you are tanned, you are not automatically cool and good-looking. It’s much cooler to be healthy, and that means to have your own “natural tanning”.

More about healthy sun pleasure.

 

UV radiation

Skin fulfils a number of different functions in the human body. One of them is the protection against external environmental influences, for example against the ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

But what is UV radiation exactly? Within this capter you will find all important information about UV radiation.

 

    UV radiation. Sunlight is composed of many different forms of light. Of these, only visible light, heat rays (infrared light) and UV light reach the surface of the Earth. UV light has an impact on our skin. It contains so much energy that it is able to enter the skin, while you can neither see nor feel them. More details about UV radiation...

UV radiation in detail

Among UV radiation, we have to distinguish between

  • UV A,
  • UV B and
  • UV C rays.

While UV C rays never reach the Earth as they are withheld by the ozone layer, UV A and UV B rays reach our planet and have an impact on our skin. They contain so much energy that they are able to enter the skin, while you can neither see nor feel them.

UV B rays for example enter the upper skin layer (epidermis) where they cause tanning and sunburn.

UV A rays can penetrate into a deeper skin layer (dermis). They can cause skin ageing and the so-called “sun allergy”. For the development of skin cancer, both types of rays are responsible, UV B still more than UV A.


UV radiation can be of different intensity. This depends on the season and the daytime. In summer and around noon (between 10 am and 4 pm), it is usually especially strong.

The geographical situation and the altitude play an important role as well. Around the equator, the radiation is more intensive as it hits the Earth vertically. In the mountains and in clear air we get remarkable more UV radiation than in a valley.

Important is as well the surrounding in which we are exposed to the sunlight: snow, water and tarmac strongly reflect the UV light, and this is the reason why sunlight is so intensive on the beach, on the ski slope and when we are swimming in the water.

It’s unfortunately an error to think that a cloudy sky would keep the sunrays at bay. Clouds can weaken the intensity of the rays, but cannot completely stop them. In some exceptional cases they may even intensify the impact of the light.

The so-called UV index shows the intensity of the sunlight.

UV index

The UV index shows the intensity of the UV radiation on a certain day in a certain location.

It starts at 1 and ends at 10. The higher the index number, the higher is the intensity. And the higher the UV index is, the more important it is to apply sun protective measures. The UV index is often published together with the weather forecast in radio, television, newspapers and internet. The given number indicates the maximum intensity at noontime.

As of an UV index of 3 it is recommended to protect one’s skin against the sun by using adequate clothing, sunscreen or simply by avoiding direct sunlight.

  Please check here for the UV index of the place where you live: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/whereyoulive.html.

Impacts

Sunlight and warmth of the sun are, up to a certain level, healthy and make us feel well. Thus, the sun is generally good for humans.

But if the UV exposition exceeds a certain level – a level that may vary from individual to individual – the skin will suffer.

What exactly are the effects the sunlight has on us and our skin?

 

Sunlight supports the production of vitamin D. More...
UV light enables the body to produce vitamin D.

This vitamin is very important for the human body: it is essential for the development of the bones. The body does not need large amounts of sunlight, however, to produce vitamin D: 10 to 15 minutes per day on face, arms and hands are sufficient, even with cloudy sky.

Sunlight cheers human beings up. More...
The visible light and the warmth of the sun enhance our mood.

Beside the positive feelings a sunny day creates, the sun is having a chemical influence on our mood: messenger substances (like serotonin) are released in our brain that make us feel euphoric and relaxed. No wonder, thus, that every beginning of spring delivers thousands of people from the so-called "winter depression".

UV radiation can be used therapeutically in various skin diseases. More...
UV radiation can be helpful in the treatment of various skin diseases when used systematically. This is called "phototherapy".

An adequate UV dose can improve eczema or psoriasis: the light reduces skin inflammations and alleviates or ends itching. It is essential that a doctor or dermatologist determines the adequate dosage of UV radiation.

Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema)

Eczema is a specific congenital form of eczema which reacts to specific triggers that do not play an important role in other forms of eczema.

Eczema is related to strong itching and usually comes in bouts. The nerves have an important part in eczema. Firstly, the itching is reported to the brain by the nerves, as is the case with pain.

Secondly, eczema has also a lot to do with our mind. In eczema, all body regions and all ages can be affected. The inflammatory reactions are usually not based on an allergy but result from completely different causes.

From its appearance, it is very difficult to distinguish between eczema and other forms of dermatitis (e. g. allergic contact dermatitis or irritant contact dermatitis).

Sunlight makes us tan. More...
To protect itself against harmful radiation, the skin reacts by thickening the upper skin layer and by tanning.

The latter results from an increased production of the skin pigment melanin, a substance produced within the human body. In this way, the energy of the UV radiation is absorbed already on the skin surface and is prevented from penetrating more deeply into the skin. Tanning is actually a warning from the side of the skin! Thus, it’s the normal skin colour that is a sign for health, not the tanned one.

UV radiation can cause sunburn. More...
Excessive sunbathing, if in natural or in artificial UV light, can become visible few hours after sun exposure: you’ll get sunburn.

In sunburn, like in a burn by fire, three degrees of burn are differentiated:

Degree 1 = Painful reddening, swelling
Degree 2 = Development of blisters
Degree 3 = Extensive destruction and ablation of the upper skin layer (epidermis)

The time in which someone will get sunburn depends on the skin type, and on the duration and the intensity of the sun exposure. The skin only seems to recover from sunburn. Every single sunburn leads to damages in the skin which the body will not be able to repair them completely. This can lead to premature skin ageing or even to skin cancer. But if you protect yourself adequately, you will be able to avoid this.

UV radiation can accelerate skin ageing. More...
Frequent sunbathing accelerates and supports the premature skin ageing visibly.

In the short run, too much UV light makes the skin lose humidity, dry out and scale. In the long run, the UV rays lead to a loss in elasticity in the skin and to the development of wrinkles and pigment moles (age spots).

Sunrays can cause skin cancer. More...
The skin remembers every single damage that it has ever carried away from UV radation. Exaggerated sunbathing can lead to skin cancer.

There are different forms of skin cancer: in the first group, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, in the second group malignant melanoma.

The first group occurs predominantly in older people and the chances for healing are very good if it is diagnosed early, as it does not spread to other parts of the body.
The second group, malignant melanoma, often affects young people, too. This cancer type is more aggressive and more difficult to treat, as it tends to spread to other organs of the body.  

The best way to prevent skin cancer is sun-wise behaviour. See more under healthy sun pleasure.

The skin can develop an oversensitization to UV light. More...
Sometimes, the skin reacts very sensitive to UV radiation: it develops skin problems like reddening, blisters and pustules, often combined with strong burning sensations and itching.

This can happen for example if the skin is not used to strong sunlight and is called "sun allergy". In the so-called "Mallorca acne", however, the skin reacts to the combination of strong UV radiation and the greases and emulsifiers in the sunscreens. You will get skin problems like in normal acne, with pimples and pustules. There are also some medicines, cosmetics or plants that can, in combination with UV radiation, lead to troublesome skin problems.

All in all, sunlight is necessary for our life, but enjoyed in an excessive manner, it can be harmful – sometimes even in a way that cannot be undone. As a matter of principle, everybody should look into the subject of UV radiation and its consequences.

How someone reacts to UV radiation depends on a person’s skin type or pigmentation type. If the skin of a person is fair or dark is genetically determined.

People with fair skin or freckles, with fair or red hair and blue eyes sunburn rather quickly and often don’t actually get tanned. Darker skin types are less sensitive to sunlight; they rarely sunburn and get a tan more quickly.

Six different skin types (I-VI) have been determined. The most frequent types in Europe are the types I-IV.

 

Please find more information on skin types here. Maybe you want to try to find out your own skin type by using this table?

The skin determines our appearance to a large extent. One of the factors is the skin type or pigmentation type – in short, the “skin colour”.

An American dermatologist developed the following scheme of six skin types in order to allow recommendations for skin protection against the sun.

Skin type 1
 

Characteristics:

  • Very fair and extremely sensitive skin with freckles
  • Fair eye colour and ginger hair
  • No tanning and mostly sunburn (after 10 min without protection)

Protective measures:

  • Avoid sunburn, better remain in the shadow (especially between 11 am and 3 pm)
  • Use hat with neck cover, adequate clothing and sun glasses with 100% UV protection
  • Use sunscreen with high protective factor ( min. SPF – sun protective factor - 30)
  • Protect especially well nose, ears, lips and neck

 

 
Skin type 2
 

Characteristics:

  • Fair and sensitive skin, often freckles
  • Fair eye and hair colour
  • Slow tanning and mostly sunburn (after 20 min without protection)


Protective measures:

  • Avoid sunburn, better remain in the shadow (especially between 11 am and 3 pm)
  • Use hat with neck cover, adequate clothing and sun glasses with 100% UV protection
  • Use sunscreen with high protective factor ( min. SPF 25)
  • Protect especially well nose, ears, lips and neck

 

 
Skin type 3
 

Characteristics:

  • Skin average fair, fair or dark eye colour, brown hair
  • Simple and slow tanning,
  • often sunburn (after 30 min without protection)


Protective measures:

  • Avoid sunburn between 11 am and 3 pm
  • Wear hat and sunglasses
  • Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15
  • Protect especially well nose, ears, lips and neck

 

 
Skin type 4
  Characteristics:

  • Brownish and little sensitive skin
  • Dark eyes, dark brown or black hair,
  • Quick and deep tanning, sometimes sunburn (after 45 min without protection)


Protective measures:

  • Wear hat and sunglasses
  • Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15
  • At the seaside and in the mountains, protect well lips and neck

 

 
Skin type 5
 

Characteristics:

  • Dark and little sensitive skin
  • Dark eyes, black hair
  • Rarely sunburn (after 60 min without protection)


Protective measures:

  • Wear hat and sunglasses
  • Use sunscreen with at least SPF15
  • At the seaside and in the mountains, protect well lips and neck

 

 
Skin type 6
  Characteristics:

  • Black and little sensitive skin
  • Dark eyes, black hair
  • Very rarely sunburn (in 90 min without protection)



Protective measures:

  • At the seaside and in the mountains wear hat and sunglasses
  • Protect lips well
  • Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15
  • After a longer time without sun exposure, also dark skin can develop sunburn after prolonged sunbathing

 

 

 

Myths

  A lot of paper has been filled on the subject sun and sunlight. But not all information around this is correct.

Many people believe, for example, that tanned skin is not only especially beautiful but also especially healthy. This is actually an image that prevails today in Western societies. But this doesn’t make it true. Tanning is a warning signal of the skin. Skin that is really healthy has a natural colour.

Many people who know that too much UV radiation is not healthy, or who long for light and warmth on grey and cold days, decide to go to a solarium. But even if the radiation in the solarium is artificial, it is not less dangerous.

Also the so-called "pre-tanning" before vacation or before midsummer, in a solarium or through self-tanning creams, is no improvement in terms of protection against sunlight. The norm for your behaviour should be how much sunlight your skin can endure without getting burnt.  You should take protective measures according to your individual skin type, that’s the most important thing.

People with darker skin may believe that the sunlight will not hurt them and that only fair-skinned people have to care about skin protection. But that’s not true at all. Dark skin types can become sunburnt as well if they exaggerate sunbathing – it only takes a bit longer with them.

Protection against the sun is also not something you should think about only on sunny, cloudless midsummer days, in the way of: no sun, no UV radiation - no danger. The opposite is the case: 80% of the UV radiation manages to get through the clouds. In winter, snow reflects the sunlight, thus you can become sunburnt even in the cold season. It is recommendable to always be aware of the UV index: it indicates the UV values per location.

If you think: "Oh, come on, what damage does a sunburn here and there", you are mistaken: skin never forgets.

healthy sun pleasure

The many nice sides of sunlight may make forget the shady side of it. Protection against the sun is very important, and everybody can do something.

With the right behaviour and a sensible attitude you can enjoy the beautiful sides of the sunlight and protect yourself against its negative effects.

If you follow the hints below, you will be on the sunny side of it!

Change your attitude and prefer your natural skin colour. More...
Many people in Western societies find extended sunbathing in the middle of the day completely normal and consider tanned skin a sign of health and beauty.

This should be challenged: isn’t it that only healthy skin with a natural tan is beautiful? The awareness that there exist various skin types and that everybody should be happy with his or her natural skin colour is the first step into the direction of “sun-wise” behaviour. Even many prominent people have become aware of this: If you look at them thoroughly, you might notice that only few of them look darkly tanned.

More information about skin and beauty: formerly, nowadays and elsewhere

Our skin determines our appearance: One person has rather dark skin, another person numerous freckles and so forth. There have always been different notions of what is beautiful. The beauty ideal and with it the skin colour of beautiful people, depends mostly of the culture in which we live and its beauty ideal.

In our western society today, those who are tannend are often considered beautiful and healthy. This has not always been the case: there were times when bright skin was considered particularly beautiful. In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance for instance, "gentle paleness" was considered a sign of beauty and especially of wealth: those who had bright skin could "afford" to make others work for them. Those who were tanned had to earn their living through hard work (e.g. field labour). Similar to some people who use the solarium today in order to conform to the tanned beauty ideal, people then tried to avoid the sun as much as possible. Also, they treated themselves with various tinctures which brightened up the skin. Those agents often were rather unhealthy.

It has not been the case for long that tanned skin has been considered particularly healthy and beautiful. For the first time tanned skin was desirable in the 1920s, with the following thought: Those who are tanned can afford to go on holiday or have enough leisure time which can be spent outdoor instead of sitting in the office. In the light of the many skin cancers, these views are changing at some places and a tendency towards natural skin colour becomes accepted again.

These developments apply especially for industrialised countries. In other cultures, different views prevail. People there want the exact opposite: In Africa and Asia a skin as bright as possible is a sign of beauty and also of wealth and success. Some African and Asian people use cremes which are brightening up, in order to conform to their culture specific beauty ideal und thus hope for better opportunities in the future - job-related and personal. This brightening up of the skin is not always safe. Many can only afford cheap (often illegal) products, which often contain dangerous or prohibited ingredients und harm health.

Avoid sunburn. More...
Avoid sunburn

The best protection against UV radiation damage on the skin is to avoid sunburn and not to expose oneself to sunlight too much. Our skin never forgets.
Wear protective clothing and sunglasses. More...
Adequate clothing is a good protection against UV radiation.


Among these should be a hat or cap with a wide brim, which protects eyes, ears, face and neck.
Tightly woven, loose fitting and possibly long clothes offer optimal UV protection. Furthermore sunglasses with standardized UV filters are recommended.
Apply sunscreen. More...
Sunscreen is another measure of UV radiation protection.

Best apply it generously to your skin about 30 minutes before going into the sun, so it can develop its full effect. Sunscreen should contain UV A and UV B protection. The so-called "sun terraces", i. e. face, ears, shoulders, neck, the back of your hands and feet, should be protected with special care.

If you want to go swimming, apply a water-resistant sunscreen. It helps to repeat the application of sunscreen, but be careful – this doesn’t extend the protection time, it only keeps the protection up. Please be aware to use the adequate protection factor (SPF: Sunlight Protection Factor). It depends on your skin type, but should never be lower than 15.

But be careful: sunscreen does not grant total protection against skin
damages from UV radiation, and it’s not a free ticket for limitless
sunbathing!

Avoid the sun, seek shadow. More...
UV radiation varies in intensity depending on the time of day and year and on geographical location.

Avoid the sun especially at midday (between 10 am and 4 pm). During these hours, the sun shines down on Earth in a right angle and is therefore especially strong. At that time, you might better want to seek shadow.

In the mountains, on the beach and in the water, special attention is recommended – but that doesn’t mean that you are out of danger in the schoolyard or on the balcony.

 

The best way is to consult the UV index for the intensity of the UV radiation.

UV index

The UV index shows the intensity of the UV radiation on a certain day in a certain location.

It starts at 1 and ends at 10. The higher the index number, the higher is the intensity. The higher the UV index, the more important it is to apply sun protective measures. The UV index is often published together with the weather forecast in radio, television, newspapers and internet. The given number indicates the maximum intensity at noontime.

From UV index 3 it is recommended to protect one’s skin against the sun by using adequate clothing, sunscreen or simply by avoiding direct sunlight.

  Please check here for the UV index of the place where you live: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/whereyoulive.html.

Apply protective measures at any time. More...
You can get sunburn everywhere: during an excursion, at home on the balcony or on the schoolyard during break. Thus, protection against the sun makes sense everywhere.
Avoid artificial tanning. More...
Solariums or tanning parlours are not an alternative to healthy tanning. Every UV radiation, be it artificial or natural, can damage your skin.

That is why you should avoid the use of tanning parlours or sunlamps. They are not even really convenient as "holiday preparation" as the body’s own protection against UV rays is not increased by them.

This is also true if you try to tan by using chemical tanning creams.

  By the way: the European Union discusses to prohibit the use of solariums by children and adolscents under the age of 18. Maybe you find this more understandable after having read these observations?

Find out your individual skin type and take adequate protective measures. More...
Find out your individual skin type and take adequate protective measures.

The most important criterion in sun protection is the skin type. Depending on this, your skin will notice the negative effects of UV radiation sooner or later.

That’s the reason why the protective measures should be adapted to the individual skin type.

The brighter the colour of your skin, the shorter is the time you can stay in the sun without risking sunburn. Therefore, people with bright skin have to apply more skin protection than people with dark skin.

You can find more information on skin type here. If you want, you can judge your own skin type using the table.

The skin determines our appearance to a large extent. One of the factors is the skin type or pigmentation type – in short, the “skin colour”.

An American dermatologist developed the following scheme of six skin types in order to allow recommendations for skin protection against the sun.

Skin type 1
 

Characteristics:

  • Very fair and extremely sensitive skin with freckles
  • Fair eye colour and ginger hair
  • No tanning and mostly sunburn (after 10 min without protection)

Protective measures:

  • Avoid sunburn, better remain in the shadow (especially between 11 am and 3 pm)
  • Use hat with neck cover, adequate clothing and sun glasses with 100% UV protection
  • Use sunscreen with high protective factor ( min. SPF – sun protective factor - 30)
  • Protect especially well nose, ears, lips and neck

 

 
Skin type 2
 

Characteristics:

  • Fair and sensitive skin, often freckles
  • Fair eye and hair colour
  • Slow tanning and mostly sunburn (after 20 min without protection)


Protective measures:

  • Avoid sunburn, better remain in the shadow (especially between 11 am and 3 pm)
  • Use hat with neck cover, adequate clothing and sun glasses with 100% UV protection
  • Use sunscreen with high protective factor ( min. SPF 25)
  • Protect especially well nose, ears, lips and neck

 

 
Skin type 3
 

Characteristics:

  • Skin average fair, fair or dark eye colour, brown hair
  • Simple and slow tanning,
  • often sunburn (after 30 min without protection)


Protective measures:

  • Avoid sunburn between 11 am and 3 pm
  • Wear hat and sunglasses
  • Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15
  • Protect especially well nose, ears, lips and neck

 

 
Skin type 4
  Characteristics:

  • Brownish and little sensitive skin
  • Dark eyes, dark brown or black hair,
  • Quick and deep tanning, sometimes sunburn (after 45 min without protection)


Protective measures:

  • Wear hat and sunglasses
  • Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15
  • At the seaside and in the mountains, protect well lips and neck

 

 
Skin type 5
 

Characteristics:

  • Dark and little sensitive skin
  • Dark eyes, black hair
  • Rarely sunburn (after 60 min without protection)


Protective measures:

  • Wear hat and sunglasses
  • Use sunscreen with at least SPF15
  • At the seaside and in the mountains, protect well lips and neck

 

 
Skin type 6
  Characteristics:

  • Black and little sensitive skin
  • Dark eyes, black hair
  • Very rarely sunburn (in 90 min without protection)



Protective measures:

  • At the seaside and in the mountains wear hat and sunglasses
  • Protect lips well
  • Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15
  • After a longer time without sun exposure, also dark skin can develop sunburn after prolonged sunbathing

    By the way: It is a good idea to check your skin regularly. Should you see anything unusual on it like a painful or changing mole, you should better consult a doctor or dermatologist and get some advice on what to do.  

 

Here you will find some hints on how to do a self examination.

Self examination

Skin cancer is the only form of cancer that is visible from the outside. Thus it can be noticed more easily and earlier than other cancer types.

In the case of developing the disease, early recognition increases the chance for healing. For this reason, you should see your doctor or dermatologist once a year for a skin screening, and you should check your skin yourself thoroughly from head to feet once in three months.

One of the types of skin cancer, for example, appears as raised and palpable nodules on the skin surface and as rough skin areas.

The "ABCDE rule" helps to identify the first signs of malignant melanoma. With the help of this rule, please examine your whole body for moles and dots that show the following characteristics:

A = Asymmetry:
Does the pigmented mole have an irregular form?
B = Border:
Does the mole have a rough, ragged, uneven border or does it look as it would "leak out"?
C = Color or coloration:
Does the mole have a varying pigmentation?
D = Diameter:
Does the mole have a diameter larger than 5 mm?
E = Elevation and evolution:
Does the mole feel raised and palpable? Does the mole change in the course of time?