There is something truly special about the sun - especially when you live in a country like Denmark, where the number of hours it shines is, after all, limited, right? The first warm day after a long winter, oh, how wonderful that feels! Or just the light on your face during a walk before dusk. The scent of summer skin and sunscreen. The sun gives energy, mood and life. But it also demands respect. Really.
In recent years, recommendations for sun protection have become clearer. Health authorities now recommend that you always use sunscreen with at least factor 30 when you stay in the sun for extended periods. This applies to both adults and children.
Both the Danish Cancer Society and the Danish Health Authority are behind the official Danish sun advice, which has one clear goal: to prevent skin cancer and protect the skin from sun damage.
And although it may feel a bit excessive on a mild Danish summer day, the recommendation is actually quite simple: if you are in the sun, use factor 30 or higher.
Why at least factor 30 is recommended
The sun’s rays contain ultraviolet radiation, also called UV radiation. It is precisely this radiation that can damage the skin’s cells.
When the skin is exposed to too much UV radiation, it can lead to sunburn. But the damage does not necessarily stop there. UV radiation can also cause premature skin aging, pigment changes and, in the worst case, skin cancer.
Despite our few hours of sunshine, Denmark unfortunately ranks very high in skin cancer statistics, only surpassed by Australia, and every year thousands of Danes are diagnosed with the disease. A new Danish study actually shows that more than one in five Danes can expect to get skin cancer at some point in their lives. One in five! That is why sun protection has become an important public health focus.
Sun protection factor, also called SPF, tells you how well the sunscreen protects the skin from UVB rays. A sunscreen with factor 30 filters about 97 percent of UVB radiation, while factor 50 filters about 98 percent.
The difference may seem small, but in practice it can be meaningful. And most importantly: most people apply far less sunscreen than recommended, which means the real protection is often lower than the number on the bottle.
That is why factor 30 is recommended - as a minimum
The three classic sun tips
If you ask the experts at the Danish Cancer Society, good sun protection is actually quite simple. They work with three basic pieces of advice:
Shade, sun hat and sunscreen.
Shade means that you should, as far as possible, avoid being in direct sun around midday when UV radiation is strongest. In Denmark this is typically between 12 and 15.
A sun hat and clothing are often the most effective protection. A wide-brimmed hat, a lightweight shirt or a T-shirt can protect the skin far better than sunscreen alone.
Sunscreen is the third layer of protection. It should be used on areas that clothing does not cover, such as the face, neck, hands, arms and legs.
How to use sunscreen correctly
To get the protection stated on the bottle, sunscreen must be used in sufficient amounts.
As a rule of thumb, an adult should use about a handful of sunscreen for the whole body. That is far more than most instinctively apply.
Sunscreen should be applied about 20 minutes before going out into the sun. And it should be reapplied regularly, especially if you swim, sweat or dry off with a towel.
Even water-resistant sunscreen does not last all day.
It can be a very good idea to make sunscreen a fixed part of your morning routine during the summer months, especially for the face. Many day creams already contain SPF, and the same principle applies: the higher the factor, the better the protection.
The sun is still your friend
All this does not, of course, mean that the sun is dangerous in itself.
On the contrary, sunlight plays an important role in our well-being. The sun helps the body produce vitamin D, and many people experience better mood and more energy when the days become lighter.
So it’s not about avoiding the sun completely, but about enjoying it with care.
With shade, clothing and sunscreen you can still enjoy the summer - and the sun - to the fullest. Go for walks. Have lunch in the sun. Jump in the sea. Read a book on the terrace.
Just remember to take care of your skin along the way.
Because the skin is actually pretty amazing. It protects you every single day. And with a little help from a good sunscreen it can do so for many years to come. ☀️