Exposed to the sun

Summer, sun, sunburn? Better not!
With the right protection, you can protect your skin from damage and still get a healthy summer complexion. But how does protection against harmful UV radiation work, how do the individual products differ, and how can you find the best sunscreen for you?

Spring is here, you turn your face to the sun and enjoy the warmth of the first rays. In the evening, you are surprised to notice a subtle redness and an unpleasant tightening of the skin: a sunburn!

Especially in spring, the skin cannot yet protect itself so well from the sun, because after the dark winter months it is only slightly pigmented and therefore particularly sensitive to light. A suitable sunscreen will protect you from sunburn, but how does it actually work?

Sunscreens contain UV filters that prevent UV radiation from damaging the skin. The filter can be chemical or mineral, and often both are used together in a sunscreen.

The substances, also known as organic filters, react with the skin and convert the UV rays into heat. The synthetically produced filters, with names that are difficult to pronounce and even more difficult to remember, such as octocrylene, oxybenzone - also known as benzophenone-3 - or even octinoxate, successfully prevent sunburn, but can also have negative effects on people and their environment.

Possible side effects in humans

Chemical UV filters can cause skin irritations such as the so-called Mallorca acne, with the substance octocrylene in particular being held responsible for this. It has also been proven that chemical UV filters do not remain on the surface of the skin but penetrate the body. The filter substances are absorbed into the bloodstream, filtered out of the blood by the kidneys and excreted again in the urine. Whether and to what extent the substances cause damage in the human body during this time has not been proven. As of 2019, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment BfR does not expect any adverse health effects from sunscreens, as only products with assessed UV filters may be sold in the EU. The assessments are carried out by the EU Commission's scientific expert body SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety).

Possible effects on the environment

Although jumping into the sea after sunbathing provides us with a refreshing cool-down, it can have undesirable consequences for the marine habitat. In various studies conducted in aquariums, researchers have shown that coral reefs are particularly sensitive to the UV filters octocrylene, benzophenone-3 and octinoxate. They are suspected of promoting coral bleaching and damaging the genetic material of fish and corals. Some countries are drawing consequences and banning the import of sunscreens containing the UV filters octocrylene, benzophenone-3 and octinoxate.

Mineral filters such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide work like small mirrors: they reflect the sunlight and thus keep the UV radiation away from the skin. Mineral sunscreen has a firmer substance and is more difficult to spread on the skin, often leaving a thick, white film on the skin. The higher the sun protection factor, the firmer the cream: a sun protection factor greater than 30 is rare, as the white paste can hardly be spread.

Nanoparticles

The remedy is to reduce the particles to so-called nanoparticles: they are smaller than 100 nanometers, i.e. one ten-thousandth of a millimeter, make the paste more fluid again and allow sun protection factors of up to 50. However, nanoparticles are not without controversy, as their chemical and physical properties can change and react with other molecules in the body.
So far, however, it has not been proven whether they penetrate the skin at all and cause damage in the body. Nanoparticles must be labeled "nano" on the sunscreen's ingredient list. They are suspected of damaging plants and aquatic organisms.
Even though their effect on the environment has not yet been sufficiently researched, the classic micronized form should be preferred.

Tattooed skin is particularly sensitive and prone to sunburn and allergic reactions. If you have a fresh tattoo, you should protect it from the sun with clothing or cloths for the first few weeks, and then turn to a special sunscreen for the next few months. Tattoo sunscreen is suitable as a daily sunscreen, is less greasy than normal sunscreen and protects the artwork on the skin from fading.

There is no such thing. Because choosing the right sunscreen depends on your skin type and preferences. Chemical or mineral filters, or maybe a combination of both? Sun milk, sun oil, sunscreen for dry or oily skin? A high or low sun protection factor? By answering these questions, you can find the best sunscreen for you. Those who value composition in addition to sun protection should consider mineral sunscreens, which also do not contain nanoparticles.

The skin on the face is exposed to UV radiation almost every day, yet we usually only protect the face when we deliberately sunbathe. It is easy to forget that excessive UV radiation can cause premature skin aging even without sunburn. Yet daily protection is so simple: many day creams and makeup products have an SPF of 20 to 50 and protect the facial skin in everyday life and provide it with moisture. And for sunbathing, there are special products that are adapted to the special needs of sensitive facial skin.

The skin on the face is exposed to UV radiation almost every day, yet we usually only protect the face when we deliberately sunbathe. It is easy to forget that excessive UV radiation can cause premature skin aging even without sunburn. Yet daily protection is so simple: many day creams and makeup products have an SPF of 20 to 50 and protect the facial skin in everyday life and provide it with moisture. And for sunbathing, there are special products that are adapted to the special needs of sensitive facial skin.

Sunscreens contain chemical or mineral UV filters that protect the skin from damage. On the one hand, they provide safe protection, on the other hand, they may have negative effects on our body and the environment. Sunscreens find their application as sun milk, sun cream or sun oil, each with different sun protection factors. Sensitive skin areas such as the face or tattooed skin require special sun protection.