Sunscreen: what you need to know

At a glance

Holidays and sunshine are an ideal combination. But ultraviolet rays can be dangerous for your skin. How do you choose the right sunscreen?

Holidays and sunshine are an ideal combination. However, ultraviolet rays can be very dangerous for your skin. So how do you choose the right sunscreen?

Even though clothing offers the best protection, using a sunscreen cream or lotion is essential.

How can you best protect yourself?

Protect your lips with a protective stick and your head by wearing a hat.
Use a protection factor suited to your skin type (see below) and to the level of ultraviolet radiation. Apply the lotion at least every 2 hours and after every swim. The lower the factor, the more often you'll need to reapply it.
Ideally, apply protection before heading to the beach. This gives the cream time to penetrate the skin and form a protective barrier. It also means you can apply it to your entire body and avoid leaving unprotected areas.
Just because you're already tanned doesn't mean you don't need protection!
Avoid UV sessions (sunbeds). Contrary to what you might hear, they don't really prepare your skin for sun exposure and therefore don't offer any protection.
Combining sunscreen and mosquito repellent? Apply the sunscreen first, let it soak into the skin, and then apply the repellent.
A tan resulting from sunburn lasts less long than a tan built up gradually.
Beware of clouds and wind, as they create a feeling of coolness and a false sense of security, even though UV rays are still very much present.
Are you taking medication? Be careful, as some medicines can trigger allergic reactions when combined with sun exposure.
After sun exposure, moisturise your skin well with a moisturising cream and hydrate your body by drinking water.
Are you travelling with children? Make sure to apply a high-protection sunscreen to every part of the body exposed to the sun.
Pay attention to your sunscreen's expiry date. Once the container is opened, it only keeps for a limited period (you'll find this indication on the bottle or tube). Beyond this period (usually 12 months), the sunscreen may lose its effectiveness. The same applies if you store your lotion somewhere too hot or too cold.
Have your skin checked by a dermatologist at least once a year. Visit euromelanoma.org.
Don't forget to protect your eyes. Do you know how to choose the best sunglasses?
Tip: bring your sunscreen for your snow activities too (read here our article on the subject).

UVA, UVB, SPF — what does it all mean?

UVA and UVB are two types of ultraviolet radiation. UVB rays are the most dangerous, as they can burn the epidermis and cause sunburn. They are responsible for 90% of skin cancers. UVA rays aren't harmless either, as they have a destructive effect on certain fibres that keep the skin elastic.

SPF (Sun Protection Factor) tells you the level of protection against UVB rays. Creams have a factor ranging from 6 to 50+. You should choose the factor based on your skin type.

Skin type

If you have very pale (milky) skin, very sensitive to sunburn, you should apply a sunscreen with a very high protection factor (50+).
If you have fair skin, sensitive to sunburn but able to tan, you'll need a high-protection cream (SPF 30–50).
If you have fair skin that tans easily and is not very prone to sunburn, you can opt for medium protection (SPF 15–20–25).
If you have resilient, darker skin that tans easily and isn't very sensitive to sunburn, you can choose a cream with a lower protection factor (SPF 6–10).

Be careful if you're heading into extreme exposure conditions (glaciers or the tropics): make sure to use a higher SPF level than you usually would.

Hate putting on sunscreen? Here's a video by Thoma Leveritt that will probably change your mind....[](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9BqrSAHbTc)