Those living in central Europe will know. When you go on holiday to Greece or Spain, the temperature is higher, the sun is brighter, and you burn quicker. And if you fly to the other side of the world there’s a reason they wear brimmed hats in the outback of Australia.
We protect ourselves for home — not for away
Most of us grow up in a certain climate. This brings habits with it. We are used to the climate and to the way of living. Someone in the Middle East will avoid going out at midday while in England people stroll through the park and enjoy the sun. But when we travel, the environment and climate changes, but not always our habits.
Why do you burn faster on holiday?
The first day on holiday. The pool, the beach, the sun, the cold drinks. Amazing! And then the first night you’re lying in bed with a burning sensation, the skin feels hot and you realise it quickly. You’re burned.
It happens to most of us. We step out of the car or airplane and start enjoying our holiday, often without thinking about the sun and its UV rays. We might apply, but maybe not enough. We swim, bake in the sun, go for a walk. Our habits developed at home haven’t changed and we follow those same habits on holiday. And did you know, in high UV countries you can already burn after 15 minutes or less.
The UV index by the World Health Organization is on a scale of 1 to 11+. 1 being low, 11+ being extreme. The closer you get to the equator, the higher the average UV index becomes. So if you’re in Northern Europe and fly south to Greece, the average UV index increases. And if you fly to countries near the equator, it increases dramatically. In Berlin the UV Index reaches 7 in the summertime. In Iraklion - Greece and Sydney - Australia it’s 10, and in Darwin - Australia it can reach a whopping 13. There’s big differences around the globe, so it pays off to be mindful about this.
Next to habits and the UV strength, there’s more in play. Water and sand reflect UV rays. Sweating and swimming reduces the effectiveness of your sunscreen. At higher altitudes UV levels increase. This all plays together into why you get burned on holiday, and why you should develop different habits on holiday. Although I must say, some of those holiday habits are actually great for home as well!
Simple habits that make a difference
I have simple habits that ensured I haven’t burned my skin for years. I’ll put them in a simple overview for you.
- #1 Apply, apply, apply. After swimming, after sweating. Make sure you apply and be mindful of the time you’ve spent in the sun. Generally sunscreen gives an indication of how often you should apply.
- #2 Pop on a shirt when you’ve dried up after swimming. Make sure to apply sunscreen as well. A non-white shirt works best. White shirts let the most UV slip through.
- #3 Don’t compromise on shade. When you find that perfect beach but there’s no shade around, reconsider. Buy an umbrella in the local shop or find a beach that has shade.
- #4 Use a UV index app daily. You can find them in app stores, on websites, and they are usually integrated in most modern smartwatches. Read the UV index every day to know what the sun will bring that day. It also helps you keep UV on top of mind!
- #5 Don’t forget about your eyes and lips. These are often forgotten! Wear a good pair of sunglasses that cover your eyes and surrounding area and use a SPF lipbalm to keep those lips safe.
And remember. When in doubt, apply.
Sources
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection - UV Index worldwide
- Cancer Council - Factors that affect UV radiation levels