Summer, sun, sunburn and, ultimately, skin cancer – this is still obvious to most people. But many of the positive properties that sun worshippers, in particular, attribute to the sun, sun creams and tanning beds are not true at all.
Misconception 1: A tan can also be healthy
This is not true. The fact that the skin turns brown is purely a protective mechanism of the skin. Although it is not particularly effective: the sun protection factor of a body tan is at most four to six. This is not enough for healthy protection.
Misconception 2: A tan is good for your psyche
It’s true: the sun sets our pace, our body releases happiness hormones and we have more energy. Sun is important for Vitamin D build. Sunlight is good in moderation, but excessive sunbathing is definitely not recommended.
Misconception 3: Only sunburn is dangerous
This is not true, because the negative effects of the sun increase in the long term. Even regular exposure to sunlight in small doses can cause skin cancer.
Misconception 4: You only get sunburn in the sun
No. You can get sunburned even in the shade because UV rays don’t stop in shaded areas. Buildings and water also reflect UV rays. But this is true: shade is obviously better than full sun.
Misconception 5: Tanning in a solarium is preventative
No, because our skin “remembers” any exposure to UV rays, including that from tanning beds. Tanning beds filter out most of the UV-B rays. But it is precisely the immediate pigmentation caused by UV-A rays that is dangerous. The following also applies: Any exposure to UV rays can cause damage later on – regardless of whether it is UV-A or UV-B.
Misconception 6: Applying the cream once is enough for the whole day
The protection of sunscreen is calculated from the skin’s own protection time multiplied by the sun protection factor used. Since the self-protection time is only ten to 30 minutes depending on the skin type, a single application of cream is unlikely to be sufficient for an entire day. Furthermore, to be on the safe side, only two thirds of the calculated time during which the cream still protects should be used to avoid sunburn. Finally, too much cream can be lost through sweat, friction and water. As a rule, this means: It is advisable to apply the cream approximately every two hours.
Misconception 7: More sunscreen does not mean more sun protection
But most beachgoers probably don’t use enough sunscreen. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection recommends that an adult apply about 30 to 40 milliliters of sunscreen. That’s almost half a bottle and about two milligrams per square centimeter of skin surface.