Spring awakening: sun pulls people outdoors!

Spring awakening: sun pulls people outdoors!

Today, many people in Germany enjoy the first sunny days of the year, which fully occupies the outdoor areas of the restaurants. The pleasant temperatures pull numerous citizens outside. In Parks you meet for a social exchange, with more than just the focus is on the care of social contacts. The discussion about the weather, in particular the constant search for sunlight, shows awareness of the positive effects of the sun on health.

The longing for the sun is particularly reinforced by the frequent vitamin D deficiency during winter, which motivates many to social activities in spring. People in the cafés often wait an hour to enjoy their coffee while they are excited about light protection factor and skin care. The meaning of vitamin D is undisputed because it plays a decisive role in bone stability, metabolism, muscle strength and the immune system, such as mz.de describes in detail.

The role of vitamin d

vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that the body produces in the skin under the influence of UV-B radiation. It is particularly important that UV-B rays do not get through window panes, which is why direct sun exposure outdoors is essential. According to the Robert Koch Institute, the ideal vitamin D level is between 20 and 30 nanograms per milliliter blood serum, whereby this value can often only be reached in Germany from March to October.

A vitamin D deficiency is diagnosed with values ​​below 12 nanograms per milliliter. The required solar exposure varies depending on the season and skin type: In spring, around March to May, people with skin type I and II should be exposed to the sun between 10 and 20 minutes daily, while an exposure of 15 to 25 minutes is recommended for skin type III. This time is significantly shortened in summer. However, the UV index must also be kept in mind, which indicates when protective measures are useful.

UV protection in spring

In spring it is important to place special importance on UV protection, since the skin is not adapted to the intensified solar radiation after a long winter. Experts like Prof. Dr. Silke Hofmann emphasize that this increases the risk of sunburns. With a UV index of 3, adults should already take protective measures, while children react more sensitive anyway. A general recommendation is to expose the face, hands, hands and arms to the sun more than two to three times a week.

The dangers of UV radiation are varied: it can damage the genome of the cells in the epidermis and increase the risk of skin cancer. It also promotes skin aging. UV protection is therefore not only an effective measure for skin cancer prevention, but also an important aspect in skin care in spring.

Nutrition only contributes to 10-20% for vitamin D supply, while 80-90% come from sunlight. Foods that contain significant amounts of vitamin D are fat fish, eggs and some mushrooms. The intake of vitamin D may be difficult, especially for people with a vegan diet. Therefore, for many in the population, it is of crucial importance to use the positive effects of the first rays of sun in good time and at the same time take suitable protective measures to secure their health.