Clearly, that top, skirt or pants and the new sandals have to go out the door with you when it goes out on sunny days in the next few weeks. But isn’t there something else missing? Cap and sunglasses, yes. And: sunscreen, of course! But which one? And from where? Here we give you practical tips on sun protection that suit your skin type.
Sun protection – the skin’s own protection time
When it comes to choosing the right sunscreen, the first thing you should know is your skin‘s self-protection time (EZ): The period of time during which the skin is sure not to suffer any damage, such as sunburn, when outside. For children, this is a maximum of 10 minutes. For teenagers and adults, the EZ depends on the “phototype”:
- Particularly light-skinned people have a maximum of 10 minutes of self-protection.
- Sun sensitive have about 20 minutes of self-protection.
- Normal tanning have half an hour of self-protection.
- For southern-dark skin, the span is longer.
By the way, tanned skin has a slightly higher self-protection than pale.
Sun protection factor: SPF or SPF
On every bottle or tube of sunscreen is a number, the LSF (sun protection factor) or English SPF (Sun Protection Factor). But how long is one on the safe side with a certain protection factor? A simple formula is used to calculate this: Self-protection time (EZ) in minutes x sun protection factor (SPF) = minutes you can spend protected in the sun. Example: Let’s assume your skin corresponds to phototype 2, with an inherent protection time of 10 minutes. If you now apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 5, your self-protection time is five times longer. You may therefore stay in the sun for 50 minutes without risk. However, if your skin is still absolutely not used to the sun, you should subtract another third from this, which means that only half-hour sunbathing is allowed, or you’d better reach for a higher sun protection factor.
Proper use of sunscreen
However, the protection provided by a sunscreen is only maintained if you reapply more often. Bathing, sweating, sand and drying, rub off the film on the skin namely, even with waterproof means. But beware: reapplying cream does not start the calculated time from the beginning, i.e. it does not extend it. Re-creaming only ensures that the protection is maintained for the entire calculated duration. By the way: The skin also tans under high sun protection factors. So feel free to reach for higher SPF values and play it safe.
Phototype determination
To determine your own phototype, the following test can help you. How sensitive to light is your skin? Choose what applies to you:
| Feature // Photo type | I | II | III | IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair color | with red tinge | blond | brunette | black |
| Eye color | light blue | blue, green | brown, gray | dark brown |
| Freckles | very many | many | few | none |
| Skin color untanned (inside of your arms) | very light | bright | medium | dark |
| Sunburn | very fast | fast | rarely | hardly |
| Degree of browning | never brown | slightly tanned | medium tanned | strongly tanned |
Evaluation: what skin type are you?
The decisive factor for the evaluation is which column describes you most closely. So even if no clear assignment to a column is possible, you can at least develop a tendency with the help of the phototype test.
Predominantly answer I: phototype I
You have very sun-sensitive skin with a self-protection time of 5 to 10 minutes or less. Protect your skin with SPF 40 or 50+ sunscreen, especially if you are going on vacation. Avoid the blazing, intense sun.
Predominant answer II: phototype II
You have sun-sensitive skin with an inherent protection time of 10 to 20 minutes. Get your skin used to the sun slowly. Protect your skin even if it is already a little tanned. Recommended: SPF 25 to 40.
Predominant answer III: phototype III
You have skin that is not very sensitive to the sun, with a self-protection time of 20 to 30 minutes.But you should not overestimate your skin either. Use a cream with SPF 25 in the beginning, later you can reach for lower factors.
Predominant answer IV: phototype IV
You have sun-insensitive skin with a self-protection time of 30 to 40 minutes. You tan as soon as the sun shines on your skin. However, you should still protect your skin if you stay in the sun for a very long time or if you are exposed to very intense sunlight. Creams with an SPF 10 or 20 are sufficient for this.
Sun protection does not just mean sunscreen
In addition to choosing the right sunscreen and using it enough, you should also remember to protect yourself from the sun by wearing appropriate clothing. Sunglasses and headgear will keep your eyes and head safe from the direct rays of the sun. This will also help you prevent sunstroke. Don’t forget that it’s easy to get sunburned in the water, too. And even if it’s windy or cloudy, don’t underestimate the intensity of the sun. Also, stay in the shade as much as possible, especially at midday – you can get a tan there, too.
