Sun and sun protection: prejudices and errors

Awareness campaigns renewed laws for the use of tanning salons, and the like have at least partially caused a rethink regarding sun and sun protection in the United States. However, there are still some misconceptions about these issues. One reason is that many people still want a deep tan on their skin.

In our society, a tan symbolizes relaxation and health, but not infrequently also a luxury – after all, tanned skin is not infrequently used as an indicator of expensive vacations in southern countries. However, only a few know the dangers they expose their skin to by tanning too much or extensive sunbathing.

In fact, a tan is not a sign that the body has recovered but rather a protective reaction of the skin against the dangerous UV rays. So the skin doesn’t recover; it fights. The consequences of this effort are often premature aging of the skin. It is not even necessary to expose yourself to strong sunlight to get a tan.

Even in the shade, the amount of UV-B rays that prevail there is sufficient to achieve skin coloring. However, the risk of sunburn or even worse skin damage is significantly lower. Especially on days with intense sunshine, we, therefore, recommend a forest run if possible, as there is more shade here.

What you should pay attention to when choosing sun protection

Cream and go? Although creaming protects against strong sunlight to achieve optimal and safe sun protection, there is still much more to consider. These tips have been summed up for you in a nutshell.

•       SPF 15 is the minimum, but sunscreen SPF50 is the best. More doesn’t hurt and is advisable if you have a very light skin type.
•       Even tanned skin needs sun protection. The degree of tanning only determines how long the skin can withstand UV radiation without protection. Even with a strong tan, this is only a little over half an hour – hardly enough for an extended training run.
•       UV radiation is invisible and is present even when clouds obscure the sun. It is better to use the time of year and time as a basis when deciding whether you need sun protection. The house should never be left without adequate protection in late spring and summer in late spring and summer.
•       When applying the cream, don’t forget your ears, neck, and face. These parts are not protected by clothing, even though this would not offer sufficient protection against UV rays anyway. A hat is recommended for the head.
•       Read the fine print on your sunscreen. This should not only protect against UV-B but also against UV-A rays.
•       Last year’s sunscreen is more likely to have lost its effectiveness. We advise not to risk anything and rather buy a new cream.
•       Don’t be stingy when it comes to creaming. 2 mg of sunscreen per square meter of skin is ideal; this corresponds to about 30 ml of sunscreen.
•       When choosing your sunscreen, ensure it has a low-fat content so that your pores do not get clogged.
•       Also, apply cream under your clothes.

If you follow our tips, you can always enjoy a sunny summer and reduce the risk of sunburn and skin damage.

•       Sun protection is essential because the sun’s UV rays can cause premature skin aging and skin cancer.
•       To protect themselves from the sun, runners should not complete their training between 11 am and 4 pm.
•     Sun protection creams from SPF 15 combined with special sun protection running clothing protect against harmful UV rays as far as possible.