Avoiding sunburn with UV index

Press Release 07 as of 2010/05/21

Spring has come. At last Sundays are sunny days again which you want to spend in the open. However, not only does your mood get better with increasing intensity of solar radiation but the UV index increases too and thus the risk of sunburn and, later on, skin cancer.

“Enjoy the sun – but use your wits. The UV index is an important tool for this,” the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) advises. The UV index (UVI) describes the highest sunburn effective irradiation level caused by the sun during the day on a horizontal level. In the summertime the BfS provides daily prognoses of the UV index.

The fraction of ultraviolet radiation in solar light amounts to approximately six percent. But these six percent are tough ones. They cause sunburn, premature skin ageing and cancer. In Germany alone 140,000 people get skin cancer every year – tendency increasing! And also the immune system is weakened by excessive sunbathing. An example: In the summertime the Herpes virus infections increase clearly.

We do not intend to spoil your going for the summer. “Enjoy the sun, yes – but in moderation,” that's the motto. The best protection from sun is wearing appropriate clothing, hat and sunglasses. Add to this a sun lotion with sufficient UV protection against UV-A and UV-B radiation. From a UVI level of 3 you should absolutely use sufficient sun protection. The sun protection factor should be at least around 20, for children visiting kindergartens it should be 30. Babies under one year of age should not be exposed to the sun at all.
Those who protect themselves sufficiently can enjoy the summer jauntily.

Since 1993 with its UV measuring network the BfS has recorded the ultraviolet fraction of the solar radiation we are daily exposed to. From springtime to autumn you can find current prognoses on the UV radiation exposure in various German regions on the BfS home page. Further information about the sun and its effects are available at the BfS home page.

Tips about sun protection:

Avoid the sun around noon between 11am and 3pm.

The best protection from sun is wearing appropriate clothing, hat and sunglasses. Wear T-shirts, trousers and skirts below the knee and shoes. Your headgear should have a wide brim or better a peak and neck protection. Good sunglasses are labelled UV400 or 100% UV and have lateral protection to keep away scattered light.

Apply sun lotion to uncovered parts of your body. The lotion should protect in both the UV-A area and in the UV-B area and should not be decomposable by light (photo-stable). You should apply a sufficient amount of lotion (ca. 30 to 40ml for the whole body) at least every 30 minutes prior to sunbathing. Sun protection should be renewed several times per day and after having taken a bath. The sun protection factor (SPF) should be at least 20. For toddlers and children visiting kindergartens a sun protection factor of 30 is recommended. Babies up to one year must not be exposed to the sun at all.

Children and youths should be especially protected from excessive UV exposure. The UV dose you receive in the first years of your life is a determining risk factor for skin cancer.

The number of intensive UV irradiations of the skin should not exceed about 50 per year. Avoid sunburn. In particular childhood and youth sunburns increase the risk of getting skin cancer later on.

Those who take medication should consult with their physician prior to sunbathing. Certain drugs increase the light sensitivity of the skin or trigger allergies.

Cosmetics, deodorants and perfumes should not be used while sunbathing. There is the risk of remaining pigmentation.

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