Why SPF, according to dermatologists, is indispensable in your daily skincare routine

Ask a dermatologist what step absolutely cannot be missed in daily skincare, and the answer is almost always: sun protection. UV radiation from the sun accelerates skin aging and can cause damage to the DNA of skin cells. SPF is therefore essential to protect your skin from sun damage. Not just in mid-summer or on holiday, but every day.

Sun damage often occurs unnoticed, precisely during everyday moments: cycling to work, walking the dog, or strolling through the city. Especially when it's cloudy outside, it might seem harmless to go out without SPF. But UV radiation can penetrate clouds.

On grey days, the sun's intensity – indicated by the UV index – can therefore be higher than you might expect. Even with relatively low sun intensity, the skin can sustain damage from unprotected exposure.

What does UV radiation do to the skin?

Sunlight consists of various types of ultraviolet light. For the skin, UVA and UVB rays are particularly important. UVB radiation mainly reaches the uppermost layers of the skin and is responsible for sunburn. These rays can cause damage to the DNA of skin cells, which in some cases leads to skin cancer.

UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin. There, among other things, they affect collagen and elastin: proteins that give the skin firmness and elasticity. If these structures are affected over time, the skin can become thinner and feel less elastic.

Prolonged exposure to UV radiation can initiate various processes in the skin. Collagen can slowly break down, pigment cells can become more active, and oxidative stress can occur in skin cells. Dermatologists often refer to this as photoaging: skin aging associated with sun exposure.

What exactly is SPF?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and indicates the extent to which a product protects against UVB radiation. For example, an SPF of 30 means that a large part of the UVB rays are filtered before they can damage the skin.

Many modern SPF formulas offer broad-spectrum protection: they protect the skin against both UVB and UVA radiation. This not only prevents sunburn but also damage associated with skin aging.

Some SPF products also contain ingredients such as ectoin and antioxidants from microalgae, which support the skin during sun exposure. Ectoin, for example, helps stabilize the skin against stressors such as UV radiation and temperature fluctuations. Antioxidants can neutralize free radicals that are formed in the skin under the influence of light.

How do you choose the right factor?

The SPF value indicates how much UVB radiation a product can block. The higher the factor, the greater the protection. An SPF of 15 filters about 93 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 30 blocks about 97 percent. SPF 50 protects slightly better, but the difference becomes smaller as the factor increases.

Dermatologists therefore usually advise using a product with at least SPF 30 daily, especially in spring and summer or on days when the UV index is relatively high. For people with sensitive skin and for children, factor 50 is often recommended.

In addition to the SPF level, sufficient and regular application is also important. In practice, many people apply less sunscreen than is needed to fully utilize the protection level of the SPF.

What do you notice on your skin if you wear SPF daily?

Protection against UV radiation contributes to healthy skin. By wearing SPF daily, you primarily protect your skin against harmful DNA damage in skin cells, a key factor in the development of skin cancer.

In addition, processes such as collagen breakdown, pigment formation, and oxidative stress are slowed down. This allows the skin to better perform its own repair and protection processes.

But what exactly do you notice? In practice, the skin often remains more even in color, pigment spots appear less quickly, and the skin retains its firmness longer. The skin may also react less sensitively to external stimuli, such as sunlight, wind, or temperature differences.

SPF in your morning routine

Fortunately, the days are gone when UV protection meant slathering a thick, white sunscreen over your skin. SPF can now be easily integrated into your daily skincare routine. Modern formulas have a light texture, absorb quickly, and leave no white cast on the skin.

A simple, protective morning routine might look like this:

1. Cleansing
Start with a mild cleanser to cleanse the skin.

2. SPF serum
Apply a light serum with sun protection. Due to its thin serum texture, it absorbs quickly and forms a good base for the rest of your care.

3. Eye cream
Use an eye cream to care for the delicate skin around the eyes. This skin is thinner and more sensitive and can therefore use extra support.

4. Day cream
Apply a hydrating day cream to nourish and support the skin.

Makeup can then be easily applied over this base. Are you outdoors for a longer period? Reapply SPF throughout the day.

Can the sun also be good for your skin?

Sunlight does not only have harmful effects on the skin. For example, the sun stimulates the production of vitamin D. In addition, exposure to sunlight activates various natural protective mechanisms, such as melanin production. Various signaling processes in skin cells also respond to light stimuli.

The sun therefore also plays an important role in how the skin functions. A healthy relationship between the skin and the sun is all about balance: protecting against harmful UV radiation, while also allowing space for the positive processes naturally activated by sunlight. That's exactly what SPF does for your skin.