Getting a little color on your pale winter skin can be tempting. But even though the sun's rays aren't that strong yet, it's important to take precautions now. And sunbathing when the UV index is at its highest in the summer is particularly risky, according to experts.
Many people know that getting burned is harmful, but repeated sunbathing also damages the skin.
The skin ages
It can take many years before it becomes noticeable, which is why it is harder to reach young people. But the sun contributes to cosmetic skin aging and increases the risk of skin cancer, says Shivan Dilshad, a dermatologist at Södra Älvsborg Hospital.
His advice is to start using sunscreen now. Makeup is not enough.
No, most makeup products have an SPF of around 10 to 15, which is not enough. You need SPF 30 or 50. In addition, you need significantly thicker layers than most people apply with makeup, he says.
Helena Torsler Andersson is a nurse at the Swedish Cancer Society and says the trend of sunbathing when the UV index is high continues.
Social media trends continue, and it seems that it is mainly young women who want to sunbathe when the UV index is high, she says.
At least SPF 30
Helena Torsler Andersson points, among other things, to a new survey conducted by Verian on behalf of Apotek Hjärtat, where around 20 percent of women between the ages of 18 and 29 who responded stated that it is best to sunbathe when the UV index is highest.
Many young people care about their skin and, in terms of beauty, the sun causes both pigment spots and wrinkles, but not everyone thinks about that, she says.
Burning increases the risk of malignant melanoma, but the risk of certain other forms of skin cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma, can increase with the number of hours of sun exposure, says Helena Torsler Andersson.
Shade, clothing and sunscreen with at least SPF 30 are good protection, she says.
Facts: UV index
The UV index is a measure of the UV radiation from the sun that reaches the earth and causes sunburn.
A high UV index means that UV radiation is strong and you should use sunscreen. The UV index is usually highest in the middle of the day.
It is important for most people to protect themselves in the sun when the UV index is 3 or higher.
In Sweden, the UV index is highest during the summer between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Then the UV index can be between 4 and 7.
Source: Swedish Radiation Safety Authority
