The sun is a source of remarkable benefits for both our skin and our body. Solar radiation in contact with the skin is an excellent ally for physical well-being and also promotes the production of vitamin D and melanin.

However, prolonged and careless exposure to the sun can cause serious damage to our skin, such as erythema, sunburn, premature skin aging, and sunspots.

There are, however, a series of precautions and habits that allow you to safely enjoy the benefits of the sun. These are a few guidelines for proper and safe sun exposure.

Which Sunscreen Should You Choose?

The first rule — and certainly the best known — is without any doubt to apply sunscreen. But which one? There are many types, formulas, and textures available on the market. What matters most, however, are the SPF and the fragrance.

SPF 30, 50 and 50+: What’s the Difference?

SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is the numerical scale ranging from 6 to 50+ that provides information about the product’s ability to protect against UVB rays, the most harmful and carcinogenic rays.

For proper sun exposure, it is recommended to always apply a sunscreen with a protection factor no lower than 30, as it is capable of blocking approximately 97% of UVB rays. A SPF 50, on the other hand, blocks more than 98% of UVB rays and is therefore more suitable for preventing skin damage, especially in people with very fair and more sensitive skin.

Unlike SPF 50 sunscreen, which indicates an SPF between 50 and 59.9, the Very High Protection 50+ indicates an SPF of 60. This does not make it a “total protection,” since beyond SPF 60 there is no proven significantly higher protection.

There is no true numerical factor for UVA rays, which are the rays that penetrate deeper into the skin and cause long-term damage such as sunspots, dryness, and loss of elasticity.

For this reason, the European Commission introduced “broad-spectrum” products, equipped with filters that protect simultaneously against both UVA and UVB rays.

SPF 50+ and SPF 100: What’s the Difference?

And what about SPF 100 sunscreen? Just like SPF 50+, SPF 100 sunscreen does not guarantee total protection. For this reason, the European Commission recommended that SPF values higher than 50+ should not be indicated on product packaging, as excessively high values may mislead consumers.

If we refer exclusively to UVB rays, there is no real difference between SPF 50+ and SPF 100 protection.

How Much Sunscreen Should You Apply?

The answer to this question is the Finger Tip Unit (FTU), literally the fingertip measurement unit!

This type of measurement is an effective method for understanding how much sunscreen should be applied to different areas of the body. One FTU corresponds to a “stripe” of product placed on the index finger, more precisely on the last phalanx. Naturally, the larger the body area, the greater the amount of cream required.

For example: 1 FTU corresponds to approximately 0.5 g of product and is sufficient for application on your hands.

To protect larger areas, such as the arms, 3 FTUs are needed for each arm.

For one leg, 6 FTUs are required; for the face and neck, 2.5 FTUs; and finally, for larger areas such as the back, chest, and shoulders, approximately 14 FTUs are needed.

Tips for Safe Sun Exposure

In addition to using a sunscreen with adequate SPF, there are also several precautions we should keep in mind when exposing ourselves to sunlight.

A good precaution is to limit sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day and avoid staying in the sun for excessively long periods. In general, it is recommended to sunbathe for no more than 20–30 minutes per day and to avoid exposure between 12 PM and 4 PM. Any sunscreen should be applied at least 30 minutes before sun exposure, reapplied at regular intervals every 2 hours, and especially after every swim.

Even simple outdoor activities expose our skin to the sun’s rays. For this reason, sunscreen should also be applied before long walks, exercise, or outdoor work.

Some Interesting Facts

If you are among those who love the blonde highlights your hair develops during summer holidays, be careful! Those highlights are actually real sun damage! Prolonged sun exposure can weaken both the hair and scalp and, particularly in predisposed individuals and men, may over time contribute to early hair thinning or baldness.

You certainly will not start losing your hair simply by going to the beach, but we recommend protecting even those areas that are usually considered low-risk or less exposed to the sun. The nape of the neck is one of those areas and should therefore be protected with a hat, while hair lengths should be shielded using products containing SPF.

Finally, we recommend using sunscreens free from deodorants or fragrances, as they may contain chemical agents responsible for photosensitivity (spots!) or allergies, and may interfere with the effectiveness of the protection, preventing it from guaranteeing the same SPF level.