13.08.2024 Sabrina Ludwig 3022

Which sunscreen is right for me?

No, it's no fun if mom or dad first apply sunscreen before going out into the sun. But adults should also protect their skin from UV-A and UV-B rays. Read what you should look out for when choosing a sunscreen.

They fidget, struggle and squirm - and yet, despite all resistance, children have to have it: Applying sun cream before they go out to play and splash around in the sun. But while we take great care to ensure that our children have plenty of sun cream from top to toe, we ourselves are often pretty careless with our skin. Applying cream once before sunbathing is enough. But it's not. Because even if we use sun cream correctly, it does not completely protect us from developing skin cancer. So it's all the more important to find out about the right sun cream before going on vacation or swimming.

UV-B radiation in particular can burn the skin

Even if you are a darker type and sunburn is rare or almost non-existent, you should protect your skin from the sun. To be more precise: from UV-A and UV-B rays.

UV-B rays in particular can have dangerous consequences. They are mainly responsible for sunburns and can have a carcinogenic effect on skin cells. Low doses of UV-B that damage the cells can still be "repaired" by the skin itself. However, if sunbathing is extended, the skin cells can be damaged to such an extent that the body deliberately causes them to die. If the skin is no longer able to heal itself, the damaged cells can mutate into cancer. UV-A rays - which are more common in sunbeds - cause less sunburn, but penetrate much deeper into the skin than UV-B rays. Deep down, they destroy the elastic fibers and collagen that keep the skin firm. The result: wrinkles can form more quickly.

It is therefore important that the UVA label is also shown on the sun cream packaging. The stated sun protection factor (SPF) only refers to UVB radiation.

Chemical or mineral: which UV filter is right for me?

There are two types of UV filters to protect the skin from the sun : chemical and mineral. Conventional sunscreens protect the skin with chemical filters. However, these substances penetrate the uppermost layer of the skin and convert the UV rays into heat energy. Later, these chemical substances have to be broken down by the liver.

Mineral filters, on the other hand, reflect the sunlight on the skin. They consist of natural, white particles such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. The advantage of mineral filters is that there are no chemicals in the sun cream and they do not penetrate the skin, but form the protective layer on the skin. In this respect, they also protect the skin from UV rays immediately after application. All organic and natural sun creams have a mineral filter.

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Even if it smears and "knows": Mineral light protection filters do not contain any chemical additives and are the better choice for children and adults.

The same applies to organic sun creams: pay attention to the differences!

However, not everyone is a fan of mineral filters. The small particles leave a white film on the skin and the consistency is often very tough. Many manufacturers therefore use nano-sized mineral particles for mineral sun filters. These are tiny and are more fluid and pleasant when applied to the skin - they are not as "white".

However, there is debate as to whether these tiny particles can penetrate the skin and thus endanger health. However, there is a lack of comprehensive studies to prove this. As long as there is no unanimous scientific opinion, it is best to use mineral sun creams that do not contain nanoparticles. All nano-sized particles must be labeled with the word "nano" in the ingredients (always in brackets after the respective filter).

List of mineral sun creams without filters in the critical nano range:

List of mineral sun creams (Link opens in a new window)

Sun protection for children: Please use mineral UV filters!

Even if it smears and leaves a white film: Most mineral light protection filters are harmless and therefore the best choice for children. As a general rule, chemical filters should only be used on children from the age of two. A child's liver is not yet powerful enough to break down the chemical filters. So while mineral light protection filters are generally harmless, you should take a closer look at chemical filters.

Which chemical UV filters are safe?

There is now a whole range of chemical UV filters that provide well-tolerated protection against UV radiation. Nevertheless, these sun creams should be used with caution: As the substances penetrate the skin, they not only put a strain on the liver, but can also trigger allergies.

List of conventional chemical filters with low allergenic potential and no proven hormonal effects in studies:

List of chemical sun creams without hormonal effects (Link opens in a new window)

Sun protection checklist: What do I need to look out for?

1. Make sure that the sunscreen is effective against both UV-A and UV-B rays.
    
2. Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before sunbathing so that the sun protection filters in the sunscreen can be effective in the epidermis.
    
3. Always use more sunscreen than intended. At least 6 tablespoons for the whole body (30 to 40 milliliters)
    
4. Reapply at least every 2 hours - also after bathing, as at least half of the sun protection is lost through the water (even with waterproof sunscreens!)
    
5. Reapplying sunscreen does not prolong the protective effect of the sunscreen!
   
6. Avoid the sun when it is at its strongest - i.e. two to three hours around its highest point. The sun is not always at its zenith at 12 noon. In summertime, midday shifts by one hour due to the time changeover, so the sun is at its highest point in the sky at 1 pm. The position of the sun also depends on where you are in Europe.