The clouds are leaving, and the sun is finally appearing again. Most of us now want to get a tan as quickly as possible. But what many people don't know is that the tanning effect is just a protective shield for the skin against the sun's harmful rays.
A balanced portion of the sun is healthy because it replenishes your vitamin D reserves and puts you in a good mood. However, if your skin gets too much UV light, you may experience redness, hot spots, swelling, or blisters. And over our lifetime, sun exposure causes signs of aging, like wrinkles, crepiness and hyperpigmentation.
We'll explain why sunburn turns your skin red and how you can best protect yourself and still get a natural summer complexion.
How Does Sunburn Happen?
Doctors refer to sunburn as an acute inflammation of the skin. The effects of a mild to moderate sunburn usually become noticeable one to six hours later and subside after three to seven days. The skin turns red and burns or swells during a sunburn due to ultraviolet sunlight.
The sun's rays consist of UV-A and UV-B rays: The UV-A rays damage collagen and thus the elasticity in the connective tissue of the skin, which makes your skin look older over the years and leads to wrinkles.
On the other hand, the short-wave UV-B rays cause redness and pain with their radiations and cause a DNA mutation in the skin cells. These rays damage the RNA located in the cell nucleus to such an extent that the production of the inflammation- and cancer-promoting substance is increased. This can lead to skin cancer in the worst case. But don't worry, there are several skin care products you can use to prevent sunburn.
How Can You Treat Sunburn?
But how can you effectively care for the affected area as soon as signs appear on the skin? First, get out of the sun. As long as you have sunburn, it would help to avoid the sun until you are entirely free of symptoms. That means wearing light protective clothing if you must go outside. Do not rely on sunscreen alone if your skin is already red and inflamed. If you get blisters, it is advisable to visit a doctor who can open and clean them professionally - please do not treat them yourself. This can lead to inflammation!
Skin Care After Sunbathing
In addition, special care after sunbathing can help. Apply sun gel to all areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun and appear dry. The moisturizing formula regenerates and refreshes your skin and gives you a pleasant skin feeling.
After sunbathing, red or not your skin will be sensitive. Use warm (not hot!) water to bathe. Choose a hydrating cleanser for your face and gentle soap bar on your body.
These Tips Of Ours Will Protect You from Sunburn
But to prevent sunburn in the first place, there are some very simple tips and effective skin care products. The be-all and end-all for sunbathing is a good sunscreen with a sufficiently high sun protection factor (SPF). Experts recommend starting with at least 15, but depending on your skin type and the sun's intensity, you should always choose a higher level.
We also recommend that you wear light sunscreen even if you want to go for a walk on sunny days: sun rays can be very intense even in cooler seasons or when it's cloudy. Even if you do outdoor sports and like to go jogging, you shouldn't miss out on sun care for your face. Light sun creams with SPF 50+ are quickly absorbed. The sun care formula in these sun creams is extra waterproof and sweat-resistant, perfect for sweaty work-outs! Even in the shade, UV rays can take a toll on your skin. In addition, it is advisable not to sunbathe too extensively and to avoid the sun, especially two hours before and after its highest level at lunchtime.
Additionally, you can protect yourself from sunburn with the appropriate clothing: Especially in hot vacation regions, an opaque, light-proof dress is helpful because it protects your skin while still giving you a light, airy feeling. If the clothing has the UV Standard 801 seal of approval, you can be sure that it protects you sufficiently from the sun. Moreover, it is not a misconception that dark fabrics attract the sun much more than light ones: They absorb 97% of all radiation. In addition, a sun hat also protects children and adults significantly when hair density decreases.
Finally, adults can boost their skin's defenses by using vitamin C to fight free radicals caused by UV radiation.
Daily UV Protection for Long-Lasting Beautiful Skin
Even if one or the other vacation "only" takes place on the balcony or terrace, you should not underestimate the sun. It's best to use a facial care product with a sun protection factor every day. Thanks to ultra-light sun care products, applying sunscreen becomes a refreshing routine. But your neck, back, arms, and ears should also be protected from UV rays when gardening or relaxing on the lounger at home. To reliably protect your body from UV-A, UV-B rays and sunburn, choose a sunscreen with a very high SPF. Thanks to sustainable cardboard-based packaging, sunscreen is can also be environmentally friendly. So you can enjoy your sunbathing on the balcony in peace and with a clear conscience.