Year-Round Protection: Why SPF Is Essential for Healthy Skin

SPF: What, Why and How?
The sun doesn’t just appear in summer – even in autumn and winter your skin is exposed to UV radiation every day. Whether you’re out for a refreshing walk, on your way to work, or relaxing on a terrace: your skin deserves year-round protection. SPF is a crucial part of your skincare routine. In this blog, we’ll explain everything you need to know about SPF, so you can enjoy every season worry-free.

What is SPF?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. This number indicates how long you are protected from the sun before burning. For example, with SPF 30 you could, in theory, stay in the sun 30 times longer without burning. In practice, however, the effectiveness of SPF depends on the strength of the sun at the time of exposure. So even with SPF 30 you can still burn if you don’t apply it properly or stay too long in intense sunlight.

Why is sunburn such a problem?
It may seem harmless – a bit of redness after a day in the sun – but nothing could be further from the truth. Every time your skin burns, you damage the deeper skin cells. This damage later shows up as pigmentation spots, accelerated skin aging, and in the worst case, skin cancer. So no, sunburn is not “just a little bad” – it’s seriously harmful.

Is using SPF alone enough?
Unfortunately not. SPF only protects you against UVB rays, which affect the upper skin layers and cause burning. UVA rays penetrate deeper and can damage your skin cells, leading to wrinkles and pigmentation. What’s more, UVA rays even pass through glass, meaning you’re not completely safe indoors either. That’s why it’s essential to choose a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

SPF 10, 30 or 50+?
Choosing the right SPF can be confusing. In short, the factor represents the multiplication of the time it would take you to burn without sunscreen. SPF is based on an applied layer thickness of 2 mg/cm². Most people only apply half to a third of that amount. For example, if you normally burn after 10 minutes, with SPF 30 you would burn only after 10 × 30 = 300 minutes. The condition is that you apply 2 mg per cm² and then reapply every 2 hours with the same sunscreen. A higher factor therefore gives you extra leeway.

The difference between SPF 30 and SPF 50 lies mainly in the level of protection against UVB rays. SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB radiation, while SPF 50 blocks 98%. Although this difference seems small, SPF 50 provides slightly longer protection against burning when applied correctly. For most daily activities, SPF 30 is often sufficient, such as in our day cream.

What about antioxidants?
In addition to UVA and UVB radiation, blue light from screens and infrared light from the sun can also cause skin damage. Antioxidants such as niacinamide and vitamins C and E can provide your skin with extra protection against these forms of light.

This is where the BAKR & BERG Vitamin Booster Cream comes in. Carefully developed by doctors and pharmacists, this cream combines SPF with powerful antioxidants. This means your skin is not only protected against UVA and UVB rays, but also against harmful blue light and infrared rays. Convenient: all-in-one care – also perfect for days when the sun isn’t shining brightly, but you still want to be well protected.

How often should you apply?
For optimal protection, sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours. Its effectiveness decreases due to sweating, friction, and activities such as swimming. And yes, this also applies when you’re wearing makeup.

In conclusion
Nothing is more important than proper sun protection: essential all year round, and absolutely crucial when the sun is at its strongest. Whether you choose SPF 20, 30, or 50, make sure to apply enough and reapply regularly. Always check the UV index of the day and give your skin the protection it deserves – whether it’s during a sunny winter walk, a spring day in the city, or an afternoon on the terrace.

Looking for a day cream with added benefits? Try the BAKR & BERG Vitamin Booster Cream. This all-in-one cream keeps your skin protected against harmful rays all year long – and keeps it glowing!