How to protect yourself from the sun?
Permanent sun exposure
We are also exposed to the sun in places other than the swimming pool 🏊♀️ , the beach 🏖️ or on holiday. Throughout the year, the temptation can be strong to want to make the most of every sunny moment. And when the fine weather arrives, you dig out your summer clothes, which are lighter and, above all, shorter, so that you can enjoy the return of the sun with peace of mind. Just like every year, you indulge in your favourite outdoor activities: walking, cycling, boating, golf, gardening, not to mention the many lunches with family or neighbours... Sometimes in the shade, sometimes in the sun, it's likely that you won't always think to protect yourself from UV rays and that you'll get one or more sunburns.
However, ‘simple’ sunburns considerably increase the risk of skin cancer. And all skin types need to be protected from ultraviolet rays. Good sun protection depends not only on your skin type, but also on the length of exposure and the UV index.
Our 6 tips for optimal sun protection
Discover our 6 tips, based on recommendations from theWorld Health Organisation, for optimal sun protection:
1. Monitor the UV index
The UV index helps you plan your outdoor activities to avoid overexposure to the sun's rays. It ranges from 1 to 12. Although you should always take precautions against overexposure, be particularly careful to adopt sun protection practices when the UV index predicts moderate or higher levels of exposure (from level 3 upwards). As UV rays are strongest and most harmful between 12pm and 4pm, it is best to plan activities indoors at this time. If this isn't possible, seek shade under a tree, umbrella or UV-proof tent. Bear in mind, however, that shade structures such as trees, parasols or awnings do not offer complete protection from the sun. Remember the shade rule: ‘Watch your shade - Short shade, seek shade!’
2. Don't neglect any part of your body
Here are 7 areas of the body that, if left unprotected, can suffer serious sunburn and skin damage:
- The ears
- The eyelids
- The hairline
- The nape of the neck
- The tops of your feet
- Under the straps (of tank tops, swimming costumes or bras)
- The back of the arms, legs and armpits
3. Get dressed 👚
In principle, the more covering your clothes are, the more they will protect you. So you can opt for long sleeves and trousers, for example. But beware: contrary to popular belief, not all clothing protects against UV rays, and not in the same way. The ideal is to wear anti-UV clothing with UPF 50+ certification, as this guarantees maximum protection. ‘UPF’ is an index measuring a fabric's ability to filter out ultraviolet rays. The UPF 50+ index is the highest anti-UV certification in Europe, according to European standard EN 13758-1. An anti-UV garment with UPF 50+ certification blocks over 98% of UV rays, protecting your skin from possible burns and damages.
By way of comparison, a cotton summer t-shirt often has a protection factor of around UPF 5. This means that 20% of UV rays pass through the fabric, which is a lot for someone who has to stay out of the sun or is exposed to it for long periods.
You'll find a wide range of anti-UV clothing, specifically designed to be light, cool and breathable on our website. From anti-UV t-shirts for men to anti-UV swimwear for women and anti-UV baby suits, you'll find all kinds of anti-UV clothing you need.
4. Get a hat 👒
Unlike caps, hats effectively protect your face, head, neck and ears from the sun's rays. A wide-brimmed hat also offers good sun protection for your eyes. As with clothing, not all hats are equally protective. An anti-UV hat with UPF 50+ certification will give you optimum UV protection. If, despite everything, you prefer to wear a cap, make sure you protect the exposed areas with sun cream, SPF 50 if possible.
5. Wear sunglasses 🕶️
Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays, which can cause cataracts later in life. Sunglasses that offer 99-100% protection against UVA and UVB rays considerably reduce the eye damage caused by exposure to the sun. Opt for category 3 or 4 sunglasses for certain specific activities.
6. Apply sun cream
20 minutes before exposure and then every two hours. Don't forget to also apply it to your ears, nose, lips and the tops of your feet. We recommend that you use SPF 50, as sun cream is never applied as well as it is in the laboratory, and SPF 50 will give you greater peace of mind and safety. Although clothing and hats offer the best protection, it is still necessary to apply sun cream to parts of the body that remain exposed, such as the face and hands. However, sun cream should never be used to prolong exposure to the sun.
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