Sun Protection in Colombia: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Skin from the Sun
The sun in Bogotá is different from other cities, and most people make critical mistakes in their daily sun protection that put their skin at risk. In a revealing interview for “Health Wednesday” on RCN News, I explained why adequate sun protection goes far beyond applying any sunscreen, especially since we live at 8,600 feet above sea level.
The skin is your body’s largest organ and its relationship with the sun is complex: we need it to synthesize vitamin D and feel well-being, but overexposure generates everything from facial spots and accelerated aging to melanoma, the most aggressive and deadly skin cancer.
Why Sun Protection in Bogotá Requires Different Protocols
Living in Bogotá completely changes sun protection rules. At 8,600 feet above sea level, we’re literally closer to the sun, and solar rays arrive without deviation, penetrating your skin with greater intensity.
This proximity to the sun means:
- UV rays arrive with greater power than at sea level
- Cellular damage accumulates more quickly
- You need to reapply your sunscreen every 4 hours during the day, even without direct exposure
- A “white day” (cloudy) does not protect you: radiation passes through clouds and causes the same damage
What many don’t know is that window glass does not offer complete protection. Although it blocks UVB radiation (which causes sunburns), UVA radiation (responsible for 95% of premature aging of your skin) passes through glass without problem. If you work near a window or spend time in the car, you’re receiving radiation that ages your skin.
The Right Sunscreen: SPF 50 is Just the Beginning
When you buy sunscreen, the SPF number is just part of the equation. Most people don’t know that SPF only measures protection against UVB rays, which represent just 5% of the radiation we receive.
The secret is in the crosses (+) that appear next to the UVA or PA symbols on the package. These crosses indicate effective UVA protection.
Look for a sunscreen that has:
- SPF 50 minimum for UVB protection
- Between 3 and 4 crosses (++++) for effective UVA protection
- Water resistance if you’ll sweat or be in contact with water
The Exact Amount You Need to Apply
The most asked question is: how much sunscreen should I use? The answer is precise and visual: the amount that fits in two fingers to adequately cover face and neck.
Applying less drastically compromises the product’s effectiveness. A study showed that most people use less than 50% of the necessary amount, reducing real protection to less than half the SPF indicated on the package.
Application frequency is equally critical:
- Every 4 hours in your daily routine in Bogotá
- Every 2 hours if you’re at the beach, pool, or exercising
- After intense sweating or entering water, regardless of how much time has passed
Tanning is a Sign of Permanent Cellular Damage
I need you to understand something fundamental: any tanning is a sign of permanent cellular damage. There is no “healthy tan.” When your skin darkens, it’s responding to aggression by activating its defense mechanisms.
Sun damage is cumulative and permanent. Every minute of unprotected exposure adds up to a bill that never gets erased. The radiation you received as a child still counts today, and a single blistering sunburn doubles your risk of developing melanoma for life.
Tanning beds are especially dangerous because they concentrate UV radiation in intense sessions, generating DNA cellular changes that lead to skin cancer decades later. There is no safe use of tanning beds.
How to Get Sun Safely to Synthesize Vitamin D
Although we need sun exposure to produce vitamin D (essential for fixing calcium in bones and preventing osteoporosis), the key is to do it in a strategic and protected way.
The correct protocol is:
- Specific times: before 10 am or after 4 pm
- Non-habitual areas: expose forearms, neck, or legs, areas that are normally covered
- Always protect your face: the face must have sunscreen even during “healthy” exposure
- Limited duration: 10 to 20 minutes are enough; more time generates damage without additional benefits
One surprising fact: sunscreen DOES NOT prevent vitamin D production. Your skin can synthesize it even with sun protection, it just needs a little more exposure time.
Foods that Increase Your Risk of Severe Burns
Few know that certain common foods are photosensitizing, meaning they dramatically increase your sun sensitivity and can cause second-degree burns (with blisters) even with moderate exposure.
Avoid these foods before sun exposure:
- Citrus: orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit (no lemonade at the beach)
- Parsley: in large amounts or applied directly to the skin
- Cauliflower: consumed in excess before sun exposure
Some medications are also photosensitizing, especially antibiotics used to treat acne. If you’re on medication, ask your doctor if they have this effect and adjust your sun protection accordingly.
Oral Antioxidants as Co-adjuvants (Never as Replacements)
There are oral antioxidant supplements, such as Polypodium leucotomos, that help decrease the oxidative load of sun damage from the inside. They are especially useful for people with photosensitivity, sun allergies, or who present atypical reactions to the sun.
However, I want to be clear: these supplements are co-adjuvants, never substitutes for topical sunscreen. Don’t take a supplement thinking you no longer need to apply sunscreen. The combination of both offers the best protection, but topical sunscreen is non-negotiable.
Specific Protection for Face vs. Body
Your face skin is completely different from the rest of your body’s skin. The face has a very high concentration of sebaceous glands, making it more oily and prone to breakouts if you use inappropriate products.
That’s why it’s essential to use face-specific sunscreens that are:
- Non-comedogenic (that don’t clog pores)
- Lightweight texture that absorbs quickly
- Formulated for sensitive facial skin
Using body sunscreen on the face won’t harm you, but it will probably feel uncomfortable due to the heavier, greasier texture. For the body, look for more economical sunscreens in large formats that you can apply generously.
The Makeup with SPF Myth
Here I must be direct: makeup with SPF 15 is NOT enough to protect your skin. Many women trust their foundation or powder with sun protection thinking it’s enough, but there are two critical problems:
- SPF is too low: you need minimum SPF 50, not 15
- Applied amount is insufficient: for makeup to offer the declared protection, you’d have to apply such a thick layer that you’d end up with a white mask
In addition, I only trust the effectiveness declared by dermatological products, not cosmetics. Dermatological products are subject to strict regulations that verify their real efficacy; cosmetics don’t have the same requirement.
The correct sequence is:
- Facial cleansing
- Serum or treatments
- Face-specific sunscreen
- Makeup (optional)
Alarm Signs: When to Consult About Your Moles
Melanoma is the most aggressive and deadly skin cancer, but detected early has high cure rates. The key is to be attentive to changes in your moles and spots.
Consult a dermatologist immediately if you detect:
- Moles that change size or grow irregularly
- Edges that become asymmetric or irregular
- Different colors within the same mole (brown, black, red, blue)
- Sudden darkening or drastic pigmentation change
- Moles that bleed, itch, or cause discomfort
Remember that a single blistering sunburn in your life doubles your risk of melanoma. Damage is cumulative from childhood.
Eye Protection: Your Eyes Also Need Sun Protection
Sun exposure not only damages skin; your eyes also suffer serious consequences:
- Cataracts: opacity of the lens that reduces vision
- Macular damage: deterioration of the maximum visual acuity point
- Ocular melanoma: yes, skin cancer also exists in the eye
Sunglasses must meet specific requirements:
- Certified UV protection (not just “dark lenses”)
- Purchased from authorized opticians that guarantee real protection
- Market sunglasses or without certification can be more harmful than beneficial
Even on cloudy days you need certified sunglasses. UV light passes through clouds and eye damage is cumulative and irreversible.
The Mirror Effect: Indirect Radiation at the Beach
When you’re at the beach or near water, you’re not only exposed to direct sun radiation. Light surfaces reflect up to 98% of solar rays, creating a mirror effect that burns you even under the umbrella.
Surfaces with high reflective power:
- Beach sand: up to 25% reflection
- Water: up to 10% reflection (but the visual effect increases exposure)
- Snow: up to 80% reflection (that’s why skiers need extreme protection)
Being “in the shade” DOES NOT guarantee protection if you’re surrounded by reflective surfaces. You need sunscreen even under the parasol.
Effective Hats vs. Useless Caps
Not all hats offer the same protection. A cap or visor only covers your forehead, leaving cheeks, nose, ears, and neck exposed, the areas most prone to skin cancer.
An effective hat must have:
- Brim of at least 7 centimeters all around
- Closed-weave material that doesn’t let light through
- 360-degree coverage around your head
Combine the hat with sunscreen; neither replaces the other. They are protection layers that work together.
Treatments to Reverse Accumulated Sun Damage
Although sun damage is permanent at the cellular level, there are advanced treatments that can visibly improve the aesthetic consequences of photoaging.
At our center we offer specialized protocols for:
Sun damage spots:
- Spot removal with Q-Switch laser
- Specialized chemical peels
- Personalized depigmentation protocols
Aging from sun exposure:
- Deep biorevitalization
- Facial rejuvenation with HIFU technology
- Collagen stimulation protocols
However, prevention is infinitely more effective (and economical) than treatment. Rigorous sun protection from today prevents expensive treatments in the future.
Sunburns: How to Recognize Them and What to Do
Any redness after sun exposure is a first-degree burn. You don’t need blisters to have significant damage.
Classification of sunburns:
- Grade 1 (erythema): redness, hot skin, sensitivity
- Grade 2 (phlyctenae): redness + blisters filled with liquid → doubles your melanoma risk
- Grade 3 (rare with sun): destruction of deep skin layers
If you get burned, follow this protocol:
- Apply cold compresses (never direct ice)
- Aggressive oral hydration (drink lots of water)
- Soothing creams with aloe vera or panthenol
- DO NOT pop blisters if any
- Consult a doctor if there are extensive blisters or fever
Remember: a burn is evidence that your protection failed. Adjust your sun protection protocol so it doesn’t happen again.
Sun Protection in Children: Protection from Infancy
Sun damage received in childhood accumulates for life. Children need rigorous sun protection from the first months of life, but with special considerations.
Pediatric sun protection protocol:
- Under 6 months: avoid direct sun exposure; use physical shade (hats, clothing)
- Over 6 months: specific pediatric sunscreen (mineral or physical preferably)
- More frequent reapplication: every 2 hours without exception
- UV protection clothing: there is children’s clothing with built-in sun protection
A child who suffers blistering sunburns during childhood has double the risk of developing melanoma in adulthood. Parents have the responsibility to create these protection habits from an early age.
Sun Protection is Health, Not Vanity
I want you to understand something fundamental: rigorous sun protection is not an aesthetic issue, it’s a health protocol that prevents skin cancer and cataracts.
Yes, avoiding spots and premature aging are valuable benefits that improve your appearance. But what’s really important is that you’re preventing melanoma, a deadly cancer that can be avoided with correct sun protection habits.
Every day you apply your sunscreen correctly, reapply every 4 hours, avoid sun at peak hours, and use certified glasses, you’re investing in your long-term health.
Schedule Your Dermatological Assessment Consultation
If you have moles that have changed, spots that worry you, or simply want a professional evaluation of your skin and accumulated sun exposure, I’m here to help you.
In my consultation we perform:
- Digital dermatoscopy of suspicious moles
- Facial analysis with Janus II technology to evaluate sun damage
- Personalized sun protection protocols according to your skin type and lifestyle
- Treatment plans to reverse visible sun damage
Schedule your assessment appointment and let’s start protecting your skin from the sun the right way.
Dr. Tatiana Leal
Aesthetic medicine specialist physician
Universidad del Rosario
Bogotá, Colombia
You can watch the full interview on RCN News Health Wednesday
