Much has been said and written about sunlight and sunbathing, the use of tanning beds, and sunscreen (also known as sunscreen or sun lotion). This brochure addresses some frequently asked questions about the pros and cons of exposing the skin to ultraviolet (UV) light.WHAT IS MEANT BY SKIN TYPES?People with light skin burn faster than darker skin types. There are generally six skin types:
1. Burns very quickly, tans little or not at all;
2. Burns quickly, tans slowly;
3. Doesn't burn easily, tans easily;
4. Almost never burns, tans very well (Mediterranean skin types);
5. Never burns, naturally dark skin (Asian skin types);
6. Never burns, naturally very dark skin (Black skin types).
| Skin type |
Protection factor |
Examples |
Skin type 1:
Burns easily and
(almost) never tans.
Fair skin,
often freckles,
reddish or
light blond hair,
light eye color. |
Use at least
SPF
18-20 for approximately
three hours of sun
exposure.
It's safer to
use SPF 30. |
 |
 |
 |
Skin type 2
: Burns easily,
tans slowly.
Fair skin,
blond hair,
light eyes. |
Use at least
SPF
10-12 for approximately
three hours of sun
exposure.
It's safer to
use
SPF 15-20 .
|
 |
 |
 |
Skin type 3
: Rarely burns, tans
easily
.
Lightly tanned skin,
dark to brown
hair, and fairly dark
eyes. |
Use at least
SPF
5-7 for approximately
three hours of sun
exposure.
It's safer to
use
SPF 10-15 .
|
 |
 |
 |
Skin type 4
: Almost never burns,
tans very well.
Tanned,
dark hair,
dark eyes.
Mediterranean type. |
Use at least
SPF
4-5 for approximately
three hours of sun
exposure.
It's safer to
use
SPF 5-10 .
|
 |
 |
 |
Skin type 5
Asian, good sun
resistance
.
|
Almost no need to
use
sunscreen
.
|
 |
 |
 |
Skin type 6
Black skin,
very
resistant
to sun. |
No need to
use
sunscreens
.
|
 |
 |
 |
| Children up to 16 years old |
Children should
avoid the sun
as much as possible .
If they
do go out, they should use a
sun protection factor
of 20 to 30.
|
 |
 |
 |
Photos: Flickr - Pixabay - Pexels - Wikimedia (Creative Commons License 1.0 / 2.0 / 3.0 / 4.0 )
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REAL SUNLIGHT AND A TANBOARD?Sunlight consists of infrared light (which we feel as heat), visible light, and ultraviolet (UV) light. The ultraviolet portion is divided into three types depending on the wavelength: UVA (400-320 nm), UVB (320-290 nm), and UVC (290-200 nm). The shorter the wavelength, the more damaging to the skin. UVC is therefore the most damaging, but is completely filtered out of the atmosphere by the ozone layer. UVB penetrates the epidermis, and UVA penetrates the dermis. Sunlight consists of more than 95% UVA and a small portion of UVB. Tanning beds emit primarily UVA and a very small amount, or even no UVB. Tanning beds, therefore, have largely the same properties as natural sunlight.IS A HEALTHY COLOR REALLY HEALTHY?A tan is often seen as a sign of health, for example, because it can indicate that you've spent a lot of time outdoors in the "healthy outdoors." Especially in the past, a pale skin tone often indicated illness or, for example, anemia.
As soon as sunlight touches the skin, an inflammatory response occurs and damage is caused to the skin cells, including the genetic material (DNA) within those cells. Tanning is a protective response against this UV-induced damage. Therefore, if skin is tanned, damage to cells or DNA has also occurred. Tanned skin is, in fact, sun-damaged skin.
A "healthy tan" is therefore—at least for the skin itself—not always truly healthy.DOES A TREATMENT OF TANBEDS BEFORE YOUR HOLIDAY PROTECT AGAINST BURNS?UVA light causes a relatively rapid tan by altering the existing skin pigment (melanin). This is known as immediate pigmentation, but it only lasts a few hours and offers little protection. Much more important is the tan that only develops after three days due to the increase and faster dispersion of pigment in the epidermis. This delayed tan is caused by UVB light. At the same time, the epidermis thickens under the influence of UVB light, providing additional protection from sunlight.
Since tanning beds emit primarily UVA light and virtually no UVB light, they do not protect against sunburn.YOU HAVE TO BURN FIRST BEFORE YOU CAN GET A TAN, DON'T YOU?Burning from prolonged sunbathing is almost exclusively caused by UVB light, which is why almost all sunscreens contain UVB filters. UVA rays are much less likely to cause sunburn, but they do affect the skin's pigment cells, which can also cause a tan. However, people with lighter skin tones (skin types I, II, and some with type III) must first redden before they can tan. Only with higher skin types does the tanning process begin without signs of burning.
People with lighter skin must therefore first burn to some degree before they can tan.CAN SKIN GET BURNT WHEN IT'S CLOUDY OR WHEN YOU STAY UNDER A PARASOL?About 80% of the sun's rays pass through clouds or fog, so you can easily burn even in cloudy weather. A beach umbrella blocks 40 to 50% of UV rays, while the rest reaches the skin through reflection and scattering. Furthermore, a beach umbrella also lets radiation through, depending on the type of fabric (for example, nylon lets UVB through).
So even in cloudy weather or when using a beach umbrella, sunburn can still occur.WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF SNOW, WATER AND SAND ON BURNS?Water, sand, and snow reflect sunlight (sand 20%, snow even 80%), allowing more UV radiation to reach the skin, leading to faster sunburn. Furthermore, the air is thinner in high mountains, making sunburn even easier. Because the sun's intensity increases with altitude, it's important to use a sunscreen with a significantly higher protection factor (for example, one that's twice or three times higher than what's used at sea level) when staying in the mountains.
Sunburn can also occur while swimming, as UV light easily penetrates clear water. Furthermore, sunscreens are (partially) washed off the skin in the water.
Snow, water, sand, and mountain travel therefore increase the risk of sunburn.WHAT ARE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF (ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL) SUNLIGHT?An immediate effect of excessive UV light on the skin is sunburn, which causes painful redness and sometimes even blisters. This is caused by UVB light. Sunburns, but also repeated (chronic) and excessive sun exposure, increase the risk of developing skin cancer. This includes an increased risk of basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, and to a lesser extent, melanoma (see also the leaflets with the same name).
Another long-term effect of excessive UV light exposure is accelerated skin aging. This is primarily caused by UVA light, which damages the elastic connective tissue of the dermis. This causes the skin to become thicker and stiffer, resulting in deep wrinkles. Furthermore, this is accompanied by a slight yellow discoloration of the skin, red and brown spots, and irregular pigmentation (dark and light confetti-like spots).
People with fair skin are most susceptible to all these changes.
Besides the skin, the eyes can also be damaged by UV light. Direct damage to the cornea is called snow blindness or welder's eye. After several decades of excessive UV exposure, cataracts can develop. This is a permanent clouding of the eye's lens.HOW CAN ONE BEST PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST THE SUN?The best and most logical way to prevent sun-related skin damage is to avoid strong, direct sunlight. So, stay out of the sun; in the Netherlands, especially between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Closer to the equator, the amount of UV light increases. The radiation is also stronger on water, in snow, and on dry sand due to reflection.
Wearing loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and a wide-brimmed hat or cap provides good sun protection. Clothing that provides good sun protection is tightly woven. A simple test can check this. Hold a piece of clothing up to strong light. If specks of light are still visible, the sun protection may be too low. Dark clothing may feel warmer, but it is safer because it absorbs more light and therefore more UV radiation.
Eyes should be protected with good sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB light. This UV protection is provided by a special coating applied to the lenses and has nothing to do with the darkness of the lenses. Good sunglasses don't have to be expensive, but they always indicate the level of UV protection. Glasses made of regular glass filter UVB but not UVA. This can lead to cataracts. In the mountains, and especially during winter sports, eyes also need good lateral protection.CAN YOU STAY IN THE SUN UNLIMITED WITH SUNSCREEN?Sunscreens aren't designed to extend your exposure to the sun, but to provide extra protection when sunlight is unavoidable.
Sunscreens contain substances (filters) that absorb or reflect UV radiation. Sunscreens usually list a Sun Protection Factor (SPF), which can range from 2 to 50+. This SPF indicates the number of times you can stay in the sun without burning. All sunscreens with a higher SPF contain substances that act as a barrier, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
For example, people with fair skin can only stay in the sun for five minutes without burning. With SPF 2, these people can stay in the sun for ten minutes, and with SPF 12, for an hour. Keep in mind that the SPF only refers to protection against UVB light! Only recently have some manufacturers also started listing a UVA protection factor, but this protection is never as good as the protection against UVB light. Furthermore, it has been shown that people use much less sunscreen than intended. Applying too thin a layer to the skin results in less protection than the SPF indicated on the packaging.
Generally, it's recommended to use at least an SPF of 15. But even with sunscreen, you can't stay in the sun indefinitely.HOW OFTEN PER DAY SHOULD SUNSCREEN BE APPLIED?The sun protection factor (SPF) listed on a sunscreen is only valid if it is applied thickly enough. For an average person, this is about 35ml per application. Research has shown that the skin is best protected against UV rays if the sunscreen is applied as evenly as possible 15 to 30 minutes beforehand. It is crucial to reapply this after half an hour or an hour. The product should then be reapplied after swimming, heavy perspiration, or toweling. Sunscreens that adhere well to the skin, such as the more saturated waterproof products, are more effective than very thin ones that easily wash off.
Furthermore, the substances that protect against UVA light are inactivated by sunlight and therefore no longer effective after a while. Therefore, it is recommended to apply sunscreen several times a day.HOW ARE BABIES AND CHILDREN BEST PROTECTED FROM THE SUN?The skin of young children is more sensitive than that of adults and must therefore be well protected. Moreover, the amount of sunlight and especially the number of sunburns that occur during childhood determine the risk of skin cancer later in life.
Protect babies up to 6 months of age from direct sunlight as much as possible. This means keeping them out of the sun as much as possible (especially between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM). Further protection can be provided by clothing, hats, and parasols. The fabrics used should be tightly woven and cover the arms and legs. It is recommended that no sunscreen be used on babies under 6 months of age.
For children 6 months and older, the same rules apply as for adults: stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day, wear loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves, and a hat or cap. Sunscreen, preferably waterproof and with an SPF of at least 15, should be reapplied regularly, especially when children are playing in the sand or water. Baby oil doesn't offer adequate sun protection and can even cause sunburn.
It's also wise for children to wear sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB rays.
Do sunscreens protect against skin cancer and accelerated skin aging?
Sunscreens block UVB and some UVA light, thus protecting against skin cancer and accelerated skin aging. However, they cannot completely prevent skin cancer and skin aging. There are two reasons for this. First, not every form of skin cancer is caused by UV radiation, and second, sunscreens don't provide complete protection. Moreover, these products cause many people to stay in the sun longer, so that the skin unknowingly receives an excessive dose of UV radiation.DOES UV LIGHT HAVE ONLY DISADVANTAGES?Many dermatologists use UV light to treat skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. This utilizes the property of UV light to inhibit certain disease processes and suppress itching.
Sunlight makes most people feel happy, especially in a temperate climate like the Netherlands. Not only the light, but also the warmth creates a pleasant feeling. Sunlight is also necessary for the body to function properly. The best-known example is probably vitamin D: when UVB light from the sun shines on the skin, vitamin D is produced. Vitamin D is necessary for the formation of strong bones. Incidentally, the use of sunscreen does not appear to have a negative effect on the amount of vitamin D in the blood.
According to recent studies, sunlight also protects against the development of some forms of cancer and certain infections through the production of vitamin D. It appears that moderate sun exposure has these beneficial effects: the skin does not even need to become red for these effects to occur. However, excessive sun exposure and especially sunburn only have harmful effects and increase the risk of skin cancer. |
