Sunscreen: What does it really do?

When it comes to skin aging, many people think first of wrinkles. Or of the natural aging process. In fact, our skin naturally becomes a little thinner with age, slowly loses collagen, and produces less hyaluronic acid. However, a large part of visible skin aging is not caused by age itself, but by something that accompanies our skin almost every day: UV radiation.

Dermatologists refer to this as photoaging, which is skin aging caused by sunlight.

How UV radiation damages your skin

Every sunburn, many hours in the summer sun, or regular UV exposure leaves small traces on the skin. This damage accumulates over the years. That's why many changes often don't appear suddenly but develop slowly, sometimes over decades.

Sunlight consists of different rays. For the skin, UVA and UVB rays are particularly relevant. While UVB rays mainly cause sunburn, UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and play an important role in premature skin aging.

Among other things, they promote:

• the breakdown of collagen,
• changes in elastin fibers,
• oxidative stress from free radicals
• and, in the long term, pigment shifts.

As a result, the skin gradually loses its firmness and elasticity. Slower regeneration can also be a consequence.

Why UV radiation is the biggest external influencing factor

Many active ingredients promise smoother skin: retinol, vitamin C, peptides, niacinamide. All of them can be useful components of a skincare routine. But if the skin is simultaneously exposed to unprotected UV radiation every day, you are, in a way, working against the biggest adversary.

That's why a clear principle has been upheld in dermatology for many years: the most effective anti-aging step is sun protection.

In other words: Healthy aging doesn't begin with skincare, but with protection.

Why sun protection also supports the skin barrier

UV radiation stresses both the upper skin layers, where we get sunburn, and the deeper skin layers, where it can cause structural damage.

If the skin barrier is regularly weakened, the skin loses moisture more quickly and often reacts more sensitively to external influences.

This is precisely why healthy aging and the skin barrier are so closely linked. Protecting your skin simultaneously supports its resilience.

Do you also need sun protection in everyday life?

Many of us associate sun protection primarily with beach holidays or hot summer days. However, UV radiation also reaches our skin on cloudy days and can even penetrate through windows. Precisely these small daily UV doses add up over many years. That's why dermatologists recommend considering sun protection not just on holiday, but as a permanent part of your morning routine.

Healthy Aging doesn't mean avoiding the sun

Of course, sunlight is part of a healthy life. It lifts our mood, supports our day-night rhythm, and recharges many of us with new energy. Healthy aging, therefore, doesn't mean avoiding the sun. Rather, it means dealing with it consciously. Shade, clothing, a sun hat, and appropriate sun protection help to protect the skin without having to miss out on beautiful days outdoors.

A simple morning routine for healthy skin

It doesn't have to be complicated. A minimalist routine can already achieve a lot:

1. Gentle cleansing
2. Moisture, for example, with a hyaluronic serum
3. Barrier-strengthening care
4. Sun protection as the last step

Often, nothing more is needed to effectively support the skin in everyday life.