Anyone who used sun protection factor five 20 years ago was already considered an exotic: “You’ll never get a tan with that.” Normal at that time was factor two or three. Today we know more, because even with high sun protection factors the skin tans. The sunscreens of days gone by could only filter out UV-B rays. Thus, they suppressed the development of sunburn, but the lack of UV-A filter substances paved the way for chronic skin damage.
Brown complexion despite sunscreen
Today, many sunscreens have broad-spectrum filter systems. The lower limit of factors or Sun Protection Factors (SPF) now takes into account the increased intensity of radiation and has advanced to the number 12. At the same time, these products are only intended for pre-tanned, sun-insensitive skin. Redheads and / or fair-skinned people need ultra high protection, and that is SPF 50+.
Ultraviolet rays are high in energy and aggressive.
In addition to visible optical rays, sunshine contains an “invisible” component called ultraviolet light, or UV light for short. This is electromagnetic radiation with a particularly short wavelength. The range from 280 to 320 nanometers (nm) is known as UV-B light, and the range from 320 to 380 nm as UV-A light. People who take a nap in the midday sun scantily clad and unprotected cause serious damage to their skin. The high energy of ultraviolet rays changes the structure of proteins and nucleic acids in skin cells. UV-B light is particularly aggressive. If too many UV-B rays hit the skin, they cause inflammation: sunburn. The effect of UV-A radiation does not reveal itself so directly, but is much more lasting. The radiation penetrates deep into the dermis and destroys the elastic molecules there. The skin becomes wrinkled and saggy, and premature aging occurs. UV-A light also has a negative effect on the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye. In addition, the release of inflammatory mediators triggers skin reactions such as “Mallorca acne” and “sun allergy“.
Which factor for which skin?
Each skin and pigment type requires a different product. Whether gel, cream, stick or milk is not only a matter of personal preference, but also of skin type and the filter substances used in the sunscreen. Some filters are fat-soluble, some are only water-soluble, and some do not dissolve at all but are in a “suspension,” a liquid with finely dispersed solids. Therefore: choose the right galenic or consistency for the skin and photo type. Detailed advice is available in pharmacies.
| Protection Factor (SPF) | Ultra high ca.50+ | Very high ca.40 | High ca.20 | Medium ca.12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body | Spray | x | x | x | x |
| Body | Milk | x | x | ||
| Face | Cream (dry skin) | x | x | x | |
| Face | Gel cream (normal skin) | x | x | ||
| Particularly sensitive areas | Sunblock pen | x |
Sun and medications don’t always mix
Due to the trend toward extensive sunbathing, patients with peculiar skin changes are showing up in doctors’ offices with increasing frequency. The spectrum of symptoms ranges from skin redness and brown spots to itchy blisters and wheals. What sun worshippers usually do not know: There is a possible connection to medications taken or applied to the skin.
- One example is broad-spectrum antibiotics that contain tetracyclines. Anyone who takes such an antibiotic must expect to suffer severe sunburn from even brief exposure to the sun.
- Other groups of drugs that can cause adverse skin reactions when exposed to sunlight are drugs for the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Consequences are skin rashes in addition to increased tendency to sunburn.
- Women who take the pill or are pregnant sometimes develop unsightly brown spots on the face, especially around the eyes or upper lip.
- In rarer cases, “photoallergic reactions” may occur due to ingestion or external application of medications.They manifest themselves in extensive skin rashes. Of all things, antihistamines, i.e. drugs used to treat allergies, can cause these skin reactions. The same applies to sulfonamides, which are contained in some diuretic drugs and in antidiabetic drugs.