We Scandinavians love to soak up the sun and want to get a nice tan. The sun and its UV rays are important for us but are also something that should be treated with great respect.
"Lagom" is perhaps one of the most Swedish concepts there is, and it's an excellent word when it comes to sunbathing.
Sun Protection Factor
In a sun protection product, the sun protection factor indicates the UVB protection the product provides. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The SPF you should use depends on your skin type and how long, and where you want to spend time in the sun.
This is how it works:
Calculate how long it takes for your skin to react in the sun, that is, before it starts to turn red. The sun protection factor multiplies this time and indicates how long you can stay in the sun after you have applied the product.
For example, if it takes 10 minutes before your skin reacts in the sun and you apply SPF 10, you can stay in the sun for 100 minutes with good sun protection. If you use an SPF 30, you multiply 10 x 30 which equals 300 minutes, allowing you to stay in the sun for 5 hours.
This is of course an approximate timeframe that depends on many different factors, such as the time of day you're in the sun, if you sweat a lot, or if you're swimming. The strength of the sun is also important; a sunny day in the Mediterranean requires stronger protection than in Sweden.
Within the EU, sun protection products must now also contain UVA protection. These are called broad-spectrum and carry the UVA symbol.
How Much Protection Does Sunscreen Provide
No sunscreen completely protects the skin against UV radiation, but the higher the SPF, the better the protection. A sun protection product with SPF 15 blocks 15.93% of UVB radiation, SPF 30 blocks 97%, and SPF 50 blocks 98%. When choosing an SPF factor, you should consider your "skin type," meaning how your skin reacts in the sun. How does your skin react?
In summer, your skin:
Always burns, never tans. Use at least SPF 20 in Sweden and at least SPF 30 in the Mediterranean region.
Always burns, sometimes tans. Use at least SPF 20 in Sweden and at least SPF 25 in the Mediterranean region.
Sometimes burns, always tans. Use SPF 15 in Sweden and SPF 20 in the Mediterranean region.
Never burns, always tans. Use SPF 10 in Sweden and SPF 15 in the Mediterranean region.
How Much Sunscreen Do You Need?
To get full sun protection, an adult needs to apply approximately 35 grams, equivalent to 6 teaspoons of sunscreen.
Keep in mind that extended stays at places like the beach or at high altitudes require higher protection of at least SPF 30.
Also remember that a significant portion of UV radiation reaches us indirectly.
If you're in the shade, you can still be exposed to up to half of the sun's UV radiation.
Therefore, it's advisable to complement your sun protection with clothing, a hat, and sunglasses, even when you're in the shade.
How Much Protection Do Clothes Provide?
Clothes provide reliable protection against the sun as textiles absorb both UVA and UVB radiation.
Loose-fitting garments are better than tight t-shirts.
Dark colors protect better than light ones, and the density of the fabric is important.
For example, a cotton shirt provides better protection than a t-shirt.
Here are three examples of garments and their approximate sun protection factor:
100% cotton shirt – approximately SPF 50.
100% cotton t-shirt – approximately SPF 10.
100% viscose blouse – approximately SPF 15.
(Source: Swedish Radiation Safety Authority).
What Else Should I Consider?
Finally – keep an eye on the UV index, a value that shows the strength of the harmful part of the sun's UV radiation when it is at its strongest. The scale ranges from 1-11+ and in Sweden, the UV index in summer is usually around 6, while in winter it is normally below 2. If the UV index is above 6, it is strong, and you should be careful and use appropriate sun protection. Current UV index is shown on weather forecasts and can also be found on the SMHI (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute) website. Enjoy the sun – in moderation!
