Sun protection: the most effective anti-ageing.
No treatment in this practice replaces what daily sunscreen does. What research says – and how to actually apply it in daily life.
Why UV light causes about 80 % of visible skin ageing, how much sunscreen is really needed, SPF 30 vs.
What light does to the skin.
The number that explains everything: twin studies and comparisons of protected and unprotected skin show that about 80 % of visible facial ageing – lines, pigment spots, coarse pores, lax skin – is due to UV radiation, not to age itself. That is why the skin on a 70-year-old's inner arm looks like that of a 40-year-old.
UVA and UVB: UVB burns and damages the DNA of the epidermis; UVA penetrates to the dermis, generates free radicals and breaks down collagen and elastin – all year, also under cloud and through window glass. A sunscreen must therefore cover both: look for the circled UVA symbol on the pack.
How much is enough: the protective effect is tested with 2 mg per square centimetre – for the face that is about two finger-lengths of cream. Most people apply a quarter of that and effectively get SPF 10 to 15 from an SPF 50. Better SPF 30 in a sufficient amount than SPF 50 in traces.
Daily, not only on holiday: the UV dose that ages skin comes from a thousand everyday minutes – the drive to work, lunch break, window seat. A study of 900 adults showed measurably less skin ageing after four and a half years of daily use than with occasional use. Apply in the morning, reapply every two hours outdoors.
What complements, what does not replace: antioxidants such as vitamin C in the morning under sunscreen catch some of the free radicals. Hat and sunglasses protect forehead and eye area. Treatments such as skin boosters, microneedling or PRP improve existing damage – without sun protection the sun takes it back faster than it was built up.
The essentials.
A question about Sun protection? Send us a short WhatsApp message – we usually reply the same working day.
Ask via WhatsAppImportant note.
This text is general information. It replaces neither a medical examination nor the consultation required before any treatment under German law (§ 630e BGB). Whether and which treatment is suitable for you can only be said after examination and consultation. No treatment results are promised.
Frequently asked questions.
Is make-up with SPF enough?
No. The amount is too small and UVA protection is usually missing. Sunscreen underneath, make-up on top.
Mineral or chemical?
Both work. Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) are often better tolerated by sensitive skin; what matters is that you use the cream every day.
Does sunscreen block vitamin D?
In practice hardly, because it is never applied perfectly. With a proven deficiency, supplementing makes more sense than sunburn.
Sources and further reading.
- NHS: sunscreen and sun safety
- WHO: ultraviolet radiation fact sheet
- Hautkrebs-Screening.de – German skin cancer screening portal
- German Cancer Society
- NHS: non-surgical cosmetic procedures
- Medical Association North Rhine – patient information
- § 630e BGB – duty to inform before treatment (German Civil Code)
External links open in a new window; their operators are responsible for their content. Medical responsibility for this page: Katayoun Mostaghimi, specialist in general medicine. Last updated: 2026-10-15.
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