The sun is very beneficial for health because it helps us synthesize the vitamin D that we need to strengthen our bones, improves our mood and helps us regain vitality. However, without proper protection, its effects can be very dangerous.

The negative effects of sun exposure come mainly from ultraviolet (UV) rays: UVA and UVB and infrared (IR). The skin has natural mechanisms to protect us from them, such as the formation of melanin, the substance responsible for the tan tone we acquire when we sunbathe, but even so, it is not enough.

In the short term and at a superficial level, these radiations can cause burns. And in the long term they can reach the deepest layer of the skin and cause serious damage, such as photoaging and alteration of the skin's defenses, leading to different types of cancer.

When we talk about the SPF of a sunscreen we are referring to the protection time against ultraviolet rays. That is, the number that accompanies these acronyms tells us how long our natural resistance to the sun is multiplied. For example, if we usually burn within 20 minutes of being exposed to the sun's rays, with SPF 15 we will multiply this time by 15. In the same way with SPF 20 we will multiply this time by 20, and so on with all the factors.

The ideal is to apply it at least once a day, both in summer and winter, and even on cloudy days. It is important to protect yourself from UV radiation 365 days a year. However, if there is going to be more sun exposure, it should be applied more frequently.