Sun creams offer important protection against dangerous UV radiation. However, many people use sunscreen incorrectly or underuse it. Under certain circumstances, this can have dire consequences, because too much sunlight not only causes the skin to age faster, but can also trigger skin cancer – even years later. We show you how to use sunscreen correctly and how to find the perfect sun protection factor.

When sunbathing, we quickly forget what effects UV radiation can have on our skin. In order to protect yourself, sensitive parts of the body should therefore be sunscreened every day. The myth that the skin tans less quickly when we apply sunscreen persists, but that’s not true. Because the tan is only dependent on the pigment-forming skin cells. Sun rays can also reach the skin with sunscreen. The higher the SPF, the longer the tan lasts, but the complexion lasts longer.

How do you use sunscreen correctly?

When applying sunscreen, the amount matters. Sufficient sunscreen should be used to protect the skin from UV rays. You can squeeze the sunscreen once in a line along the palm of your hand: this is the right amount for each part of the body. According to the Cancer League, special attention should be paid to the so-called “sun terraces”. These sun-exposed parts of the body are the lips, nose and ears, as well as the scalp, neck and shoulders.

How often do you have to apply sunscreen?

The Swiss Cancer League recommends applying sunscreen twice, 15 minutes apart, before exposure to the sun. In the meantime, the protective factors unfold their effect. After that, an application every two hours is recommended. So you always stay protected while you are in the sun. This is also independent of self-protection .

What does the sun protection factor say?

The sun protection factor (SPF) indicates how much longer you can stay in the sun. The higher the SPF, the more time you can spend in the sun.

What SPF do I need?

Which sun protection factor you need depends on your skin type. The self -protection of the skin plays a decisive role. It indicates how long you can stay in the sun without protection and varies depending on your skin type. Basically, the darker the skin, the more sun it can tolerate. If you have applied sunscreen, you can find out how long you can be exposed to direct sunlight as follows: Multiply the self-protection by the sun protection factor to get the time.

A second important point is the UV index. This indicates how dangerous the sun’s rays are. Depending on the region and season, this can vary greatly. MeteoSwiss creates a daily forecast for the UV index for the various regions and altitudes in Switzerland – if this is in the green area, no sun protection is necessary. Further information on the UV index and indices of other countries can be obtained from the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG).

The Cancer League recommends sun protection from the “medium” category (SPF 15 or higher), and for children protection from the “high” category (at least SPF 30).

How much sunscreen do you need for optimal protection?

You should apply a portion of sunscreen to every part of your body, for example your head and neck or arms, from the base of your hand to the tip of your middle finger.

How long does sunscreen have to soak in before going in the water?

It takes about 30 minutes for the sunscreen to be completely absorbed and take full effect. In addition, new sunscreen should always be applied after swimming.