How much sun exposure is considered healthy?

How much sun is good for us and when should we protect our skin from sunlight?

The Sun is one of the key factors that allow life to continue to exist on Earth. It emits heat and light, and thus plants and animals on our planet can be born, live, grow and exist. It also determines our seasons, climate, ocean currents and weather.

An interesting fact is that the temperature of the Sun, which reaches about 15 million degrees Celsius in its core, continuously decreases with distance from the core, dropping to 6000°C on its surface, and we are lucky that the Earth is 150 million kilometers away. , and that it has a protective ozone layer.

Sunlight is very powerful even when it reaches Earth. It is in this context that we often talk about radiation. Sunlight contains harmful UV rays, which are divided into energy-rich shortwave and longwave rays. Shortwave rays are called UVB rays and longwave rays are called UVA rays. These rays can cause skin cancer – and that's why it's especially important to take measures to protect our skin. But do you actually know how much sun is good for you and your skin?

Sunlight is an essential part of life. It provides us with warmth, energy, vitamin D and other important benefits. But too much can have a negative impact on our skin, eyes and overall health. How much sunlight is good for you? And when is it advisable to protect yourself from it?

UVB and UVA rays and their characteristics

Sunlight emits UV rays. They cannot be seen with the naked eye, but they are dangerous. UV rays are what determine whether you will burn or not. Therefore, it does not always matter whether it is 25 or 40 degrees and whether there are clouds in the sky or not. So you should always remember the need to protect yourself.

As already mentioned, there is a difference between the UV rays of the Sun. One type is UVB rays. It is the short-wave rays that can cause burns on the skin. The other type of radiation is UVA radiation, which is the long-wave radiation. These rays turn the skin brown as they form pigment, but they can also contribute to skin aging and the appearance of age spots and wrinkles.

UVA rays can cause solar eczema as well as skin burns. However, the amount of energy must be 1000 times higher than when burning UVB rays. You can easily avoid too much UV radiation by not spending too much time in the Sun. Remember to cover the skin with clothing and use quality sunscreen products. Also, keep in mind that UV radiation can penetrate both clothing and the protective layer of SPF products.

What are skin burns and which layer of skin can they damage?

The skin is our largest organ. If the skin burns from the Sun, it can cause pain, blisters, redness, swelling and spoil the appearance of the skin. There are three types of burns – 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree. These scales are calculated based on how deep the tissue damage is in the skin. First-degree burns damage the outermost layer of skin, cause pain, redness, and may cause swelling.

In second-degree burns, the middle layer of the skin and the outer layer of the skin are damaged. This burn causes pain, blistering and redness. First and second degree burns often heal without scarring.

The last type of burn - a third degree burn is the most dangerous and serious. It causes the greatest damage because it affects the subcutaneous tissue, which is very sensitive, in this case the nerves and blood vessels in the skin are damaged. A third degree burn can be very extensive, and if so can be life-threatening because the amount of infection and bacteria can be very high.

What can you do to protect your skin?

Avoid strong sun. The sun's rays are particularly strong between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. During this time, stay in the shade or indoors if possible.

Clothing is the best protection - wear a hat and light, airy clothes with long sleeves and pants.

Protect your eyes with sunglasses.

Use sunscreen, even if you are only in the sun for a short time.

Every day, use moisturizing daily creams with a sun protection factor on your face.

Use after sun care and hydrate your skin sufficiently.

What are the useful amounts of sunlight for humans?

location. In general, however, most adults need at least 15 minutes of direct sunlight on the face and hands 2-3 times a week to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D. This time should be increased to 20-30 minutes if you have darker skin. skin or live in a higher geographical region.

At the same time, it is important to remember that too much Sun can do more harm than good. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can lead to wrinkles, sun spots and other signs of premature aging. It may also increase the risk of developing skin cancer and eye diseases such as cataracts or macular degeneration. That's why it's essential to protect your skin from the sun when needed.

How to choose the right protection for your skin?

You should choose sun protection according to your skin type, activity and your personal preferences. For many, it is important that the sunscreen does not make the skin oily or white. When it has a physical filter, it sits on the skin and in some cases can be seen as a white layer – especially when the skin is under water. Especially sunscreens for children under 3 contain these physical filters, as children's skin is not developed enough to withstand chemical filters. A product with a chemical filter penetrates the top layer of the skin and filters out UV rays that would otherwise damage the skin. Light skin burns more easily than dark skin, but remember that even if your skin is dark, you are still affected by the UV rays that cause sun damage.

In conclusion, it's important to remember that you need the sun for your health and well-being, but overexposure can lead to skin damage. The best way to protect yourself from harmful UV rays is to wear protective clothing and sunscreen when outdoors, especially during the peak hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is also recommended to take regular breaks from direct sunlight.

Ultimately, striking a balance between the health benefits of the Sun and protecting against its dangers will ensure you stay healthy and enjoy the Sun life! At Sun Like, we strive to provide you with high-quality sunscreen products that will allow you to enjoy the sun's rays.