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Home > Press > Year 2010 > Press Release 10 as of 2010/07/01
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Press Release 10 as of 2010/07/01
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With healthy skin through the summer
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During holiday time many people can hardly wait for the sun to shine – and chances are not bad as actually some very sunny and warm days have been forecast. “To be able to enjoy the weather without risk one should pay attention to the right sun protection. Because the sun also has its dark sides,” Florian Emrich, spokesman of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), explained today in Salzgitter.
Too much sun can lead to skin cancer and premature skin ageing. Each year around 200,000 people get skin cancer - with increasing tendency. Emrich: “We don’t want to spoil the fun people have with the sun. The right sun protection is quite easy. The general rule is that the physical stay in the shade, proper clothing, headdress and sun glasses provide the best sun protection – and of course the use of suntan lotion with sufficient UV protection.”
Especially children and youths should be protected. Sunburns received before age 18 are an essential factor for the later risk of getting skin cancer. “Children under age 2 should not be exposed to the sun at all, later on it depends on the right sun protection,” Emrich emphasises. The BfS started an information campaign in which it provides information about the right exposure to the sun. Detailed information is available in the internet at http://www.bfs.de/sonne-aber-sicher (in German only).
The so-called UV index informs about the level of UV radiation and about how high the risk of sunburn is on the respective day. The higher the UVI value, the more probable skin irritations and sunburn occur. The BfS publishes forecasts in the internet (http://www.bfs.de/en/uv/uv_messnetz/uvi) of the level of UV radiation in Germany. These forecasts also include recommendations for the duration of exposure and how to protect oneself.
Tips about sun protection:
Proper clothing and headdress effectively protect from sunburn! 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.
Don’t use too little suntan lotion and pay attention to a high sun protection factor! The suntan 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 40 ml 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.
Well apply lotion to the parts of the body that are especially exposed: from ears to back of the feet!
Since the UV radiation reaches its highest level around noon it is recommendable to spend this time better in the shade – skin tan there is more gentle anyway. More than 50 sunbaths per year are not recommended.
Pay special attention to providing children with good sun protection. In particular childhood and youth sunburns increase the risk of getting skin cancer later on. Babies under the age of two years should not be exposed to the sun at all.
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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