The sun gives us warmth and a good mood. But it also emits invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is dangerous to the skin in large doses. UV rays penetrate skin cells and damage them. A tan is the skin's protective response to this, but repeated exposure can cause melanoma – a dangerous skin cancer.
Excessive tanning is a risk. A “safe” tan is a myth.
Any tan means the skin has been exposed to UV radiation and damaged. Frequent sunburns (redness, peeling skin, blisters) increase the risk of melanoma.
How can you protect yourself from the sun? This does not mean giving up the beach or walks altogether. You can enjoy the sun safely if you follow a few simple rules:
⏰ Avoid the midday sun: try to stay out of direct sunlight from 10:00 to 16:00, when UV is strongest. Plan your activities for the morning or closer to the evening.
🧴 Sunscreen (SPF 30+): use it every time you spend time in the sun (not just at the beach). Apply it 20–30 minutes before going outside and reapply every 2 hours.
👒 Clothing and sunglasses: wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses with a UV filter and lightweight, light-colored clothing with long sleeves – this will protect your face, eyes and skin.
👶 Children: keep children under 3 in the shade — their skin is sensitive. For older children, apply sunscreen with SPF and put a sun hat on them.
What is SPF? SPF (Sun Protection Factor) shows how long a sunscreen protects the skin from burning. For example, SPF 30 lets you stay in the sun about 30 times longer without your skin turning red than without sunscreen. But even the highest SPF does not block 100% of UV, so do not sunbathe for long and remember to reapply your protection every 2 hours.
Take care of your skin: check your moles regularly and have a dermoscopy with a doctor at least once a year. Stay healthy! 💙