Now in summer the protection of our skin is particularly important from too much sun – whether on the beach, in the mountains or in everyday life. But what is a good sunscreen that does not harm your body or the environment? How does sunscreen actually work? And how do you apply sun milk?
Many people link the smell of sun milk with summer, vacation and beautiful memories. But also on the way to work or visiting the playground, she protects against UV radiation. Sunscreen extends the time when you can enjoy the sun unscathed. It not only prevents sunburns, but also premature skin aging and some forms of skin cancer. Regular use is an investment in healthy skin.
Sunscreen is not the same as sunscreen
There are two mechanisms according to which sunscreen protects against UV radiation. Products with chemical filters penetrate the skin and convert the UV radiation into low-energy, long-wave heat radiation. However, some of these soluble filters change the hormone balance, can trigger allergies or harm the environment.
The alternative are physical UV filters, for example titanium or zinc oxide. These mineral filters lie down like a protective layer over the skin and reflect, absorb and sprinkle the sunlight. This occasionally shows through a white film on the skin. For this purpose, insoluble filters are harmless to your own health and the environment. All certified natural cosmetics sun creams are equipped with these filters.
However, some brands also offer sunscreen that use physical filters in the form of nanoparticles. This is how the white film should be prevented. They are not recommended, even though companies apply to them as ecological. Because the filter particles are so small that they can penetrate deeply in organisms and their tissues and damage the body. In the water, the small particles create harmful hydrogen peroxide together with sunlight. Therefore, avoid sunscreens with the “nano” label in the list of ingredients.
Which sun protection factor is necessary?
An important selection criterion for sunscreen is the sun protection factor (SPF). It indicates how strong the protection against the cell-damaging UV-B radiation is. A sun protection factor of 30 indicates that you can stay in the sun 30 times as long as long as you use no protection. With a light skin type, this means five hours instead of ten minutes. However, this protective effect can only be achieved in the laboratory. Therefore, only 60 percent should be used.
The Federal Office for Radiation Protection recommends a sun protection factor of at least 30 for daily use. If you are in the mountains, on snow, on the water and in particularly sunny regions, you should use SPF 50+. This is generally recommended for children and particularly UV-sensitive people. It is also important that the sunscreen also protects against UV-A radiation. This lengthy UV component penetrates deeper into the skin and causes long-term damage there.
For your own health
Sun milk and Co. should contribute to our health and not harm it. Therefore, pay attention to the ingredients when buying. In chemical UV filters, there are always indications of hormone-damaging properties. For example, Ökotest found contamination with the plasticizer Dihexylphthalat (DNHEXP) for products with the filter DDHB. The fabric is converted into mono-n-hexylphthalate (MNHEXP) in the body, which is considered to be dangerous to reproduce and health. Sonnc creams with DDHB do not necessarily contain DNHEXP.
Consumer advocates have also found other harmful substances in sunscreen, for example carcinogenic ingredients. If you want to be sure, you can scan products with the “Toxfox” app of the Environmental Protection Organization BUND and check for questionable ingredients.
How to put a strain on the sunscreen water
According to the US calculations, around 14,000 tons of sunscreen reaches the sea annually. This corresponds to 100,000 filled bathtubs. It is therefore important to pay attention to environmentally friendly ingredients when the sun milk. Many sunscreens contain plastic compounds, for example as binders. If you get into the sea or waste water, it is difficult to break down. To avoid microplastics, a look at the list of ingredients helps when buying.
If sunscreen gets into the sea while bathing, it can also be a danger to water creatures. The substances of the lotions contribute, for example, to the coral and algae bleach, which is already a problem due to the warming of the oceans. Even the hormone balance of fish can interfere with chemical UV filters in the sea. There is no protected seal for reef-friendly sunscreen, but consumers can make sure not to use harmful UV filters such as octocrylene, octinoxate and oxyben zone. We can also counteract our behavior: after applying sunscreen, we should wait at least 30 minutes before we go into the water. Then the sunscreen has moved in and does not wash off immediately.
The amount makes the effect
Once you have decided on a sunscreen, it depends on the correct application. In order to achieve the specified protective effect of sun products, the cream must be applied 20 to 30 minutes before staying in the sun, according to the Federal Office for Radiation Protection. Experts recommend two milligrams per square centimeter skin. In an adult, these are four heaped tablespoons for the whole body. After applying five times, an ordinary bottle with 200 milliliters should be used up.
Since sunscreen rubs off when sweating, bathing and drying, you should check it up several times a day. This is the only way to protect the protective effect – however, the duration of the maximum protective effect depending on the SPF is not extended.
What else can help?
Again and again companies or influencers advertise vegetable oils as a natural alternative to sunscreen. However, jojoba, olive and coconut oil or shea butter have only a low sun protection factor between two and four. This means that they double the time to quadruple times that you can stay in the sun undamaged. They also only hold 30 to 50 percent of harmful UV radiation. Plant oils are therefore not suitable as sun protection.
A good addition to sunscreen is clothing and avoidance. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection recommends avoiding the particularly intensive midday sun between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Sonnen hats, glasses and long clothing also help. However, special UV protective clothing made of synthetic materials is not recommended because it causes microplasty abrasion.
