There’s plenty of information available that states tanning in the sun or in tanning booths isn’t good for you. With skin cancer on the rise, being smart about sun exposure is becoming more critical each year. Because it’s summer, and because a golden tan is still the preferred summer look regardless of where you live, this post focuses on how to achieve that look from a bottle and not the sun’s harmful rays.
You can’t deny it, the sun is vital to our survival. Without it, the earth would be a cold, lifeless ball floating in the universe. The sun provides us with life-giving warmth, sunlight to grow plants and trees, works in conjustion with our bodies to increase our levels of vitamin D and promotes melanin production which, for some, produces a golden tan. But your skin, when exposed directly to the sun without some form of protection, can become damaged to the point of developing life-threatening issues such as cancer.
There are two types of rays that pummel your skin when you’re in the sun (and even under cloud cover) – UVA and UVB. UVA rays dive deep into the skin, killing cells that would have otherwise supported the outer skin. UVB rays damage the uppermost layers of skin, which results in the dry, rough and aged appearance skin takes on after years of sun exposure. Photographs taken with a UV-light camera can show the extent of damage caused by the sun. Sometimes, those images can be frightening.
Even if you do tan, your skin is still being damaged by the sun. Areas with the thinnest skin, such as the hands and under the eyes, will begin to show irreversible advanced aging. Suntan lotions don’t provide enough protection to guarantee that you are not destroying your skin while you lay there tanning in the sun. There are safer methods for getting a tan these days.
Sunless tanning solutions have been around for years but only became widely accepted as the dangers of sun exposure become more widely publicized and documented. The original formulas left most people looking like an orange, especially their hands if they failed to wash off the residue. Newer versions give a more natural color to the skin and apply more evenly without streaks. Your “tan in a can” will be your secret alone as long as you apply it according to directions. It’s best to start with a lighter shade than you desire to gradually build up color. This will not only look better in the long run, you won’t have people wondering where you had yourself “baked.”
You can still hit the tanning salon, but instead of laying on a tanning bed, you stand in a spray booth and get “painted” with a tan. Done well, a spray tan looks very natural. There are two drawbacks to spray tanning; one are the fumes from the sprayer and the other is that the tan only lasts as long as the painted skin cells last on your body. In other words, the tan might last a week if you’re luck. This is a great tanning option if you only want to look tanned for a special occasion.
Regardless of whether you consciously tan in the sun or not, your skin will be damaged during day-to-day activities if you don’t consistently apply some type of sunscreen. Because our face, neck, chest and hands are exposed most often, always apply some type of sunscreen to them daily. Using a product with an SPF of at least 30, but no higher than 50, will provide you with more than adequate protection.
Even if you have tanned in the past, by switching to sunless tanning you’ll be doing your skin a huge favor. Remember to follow manufacturer’s instructions for the products you use. By using these sunless options for achieving a golden, tanned look, you will give your skin a break and possibly avoid health issues later in life.
Happy (sunless) tanning!
