Do you want to have a nice tan but at the same time don't want to increase the chances of developing wrinkles or skin cancer? Although there is no truly healthy and safe tan, it is possible to reduce the negative effects of sun exposure by taking some precautions.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: In the Sun
Step 1. Understand how tanning works
It is a process that the skin cells put in place to protect themselves from harmful UVA and UVB rays and not to make you more attractive during the summer.
- UVA and UVB are radiation that has been related to cancer. Prolonged exposure increases the risk of developing skin cancer cells.
- Tanning acts as a shield against radiation. Imagine thousands of little umbrellas above your skin cells that open up more and more as you stand in the sunlight and thus make you appear darker and darker.
- Tanning itself does not cause damage or tumors, but it is visible proof that cell damage has already occurred.
Step 2. Always apply protection before tanning
Exposing yourself to the sun without sunscreen increases the risk of cancer.
- Full-screen sunscreens contain titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that completely block UV rays. This means you don't get tanned when you apply them.
- Protective creams, on the other hand, allow ultraviolet rays to reach the surface of the skin and therefore allow tanning.
- The protection factor (SPF) indicates the amount of UV radiation that the cream lets through to your skin. For example, an SPF 30 lets 1/30 of the sun's rays come into contact with the skin.
- Do not use an SPF below 20.
- Apply 2-3 tablespoons of sunscreen or total screen all over your body, focusing on the areas that are most exposed such as the shoulders, nose, face, arms and back.
- Both products should be spread every two hours or after being in water.
Step 3. Know when and how long to stay in the sun
UV radiation is most intense between 10am and 4pm, so be especially careful during these hours. Try to tan gradually to minimize skin damage. One hour a day is considered safe.
Step 4. Use a tanning oil to speed up the process
These products contain ingredients that intensify UV rays and darken the skin faster.
- The goal of tanning oils is not protection but the concentration of radiation to accelerate the skin's reaction.
- Use only oils that also include some protection, SPF 15 or more.
- Just like sunscreen creams, smear the oils all over your body and reapply them often to ensure some protection.
Method 2 of 3: Without the Sun
Step 1. Use a self-tanner
It can be in the form of creams, lotions, or sprays that dye the skin as if you were tanned.
- They are chemical products based on dihydroxyacetone that colors dead skin cells. This means that the effect is only temporary and lasts until the body gets rid of these cells.
- To get an even tan, first rub your body with an exfoliant to remove dead cells.
- Spread the product all over the body avoiding streaks and color spots.
- Self-tanners may not contain any sunscreen. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you may suffer from skin damage even though you have applied self-tanner. Always apply protection in conjunction with this product.
- Make sure that the product you have chosen does not require sun exposure to activate. Some self-tanners are mixed with other products that are supposed to tan “without sun” but are not always fully effective.
Step 2. Avoid pills that "promote" tanning
They contain coloring agents which, over time, damage the liver and cause the skin to take on an orange hue.
Step 3. Maintain your tan
Apply a moisturizer regularly to limit the number of dead cells that come off, so the tan will last longer.
Method 3 of 3: Tanning Centers
Step 1. Beware of sun beds
They don't use real sunlight and only expose you to UV rays which damage the skin.
- These beds simulate solar radiation, which means they do not reduce the risk of skin damage when compared to natural light.
- Using sun beds before the age of 30 increases the chances of developing skin cancer by 75%.
Step 2. Look for alternatives to spray tanning
Some tanning centers offer this solution, but the dyes that are used are not regulated by the Ministry of Health and could cause problems if ingested or inhaled.
Advice
- Well-hydrated skin burns less easily and tans more easily, so always keep a glass of water close at hand!
- If you wish to tan, be sure to see a dermatologist at least once a year for a follow-up exam for signs of skin cancer.
- Turn around from time to time to tan both front and back.
- The skin is most at risk at higher altitudes and as you get closer to the equator.
- If you don't trust tanning beds or are afraid to use self-tanning products, try sunscreen tanning creams. Apply them like normal creams and they will give you a beautiful complexion.
- You can tan in the water and on the snow because they both reflect and intensify the sun's UV rays.
- Don't have a tanning oil? Even water works (not like oil but it's better than nothing), because it attracts the sun's rays.
- If you want a nice golden tan, put on the protective cream with factor 30 as a minimum.
- The sun is warmest between 10.00 and 16.00. If you expose yourself in this time interval, you will get a more intense tan.
Warnings
- Even if you take all the precautions mentioned in this article, skin damage and cancer are an unfortunate possibility.
- Spending time in the sun is not the only or the best way to get your daily intake of vitamin D. Instead of relying only on sunlight, try supplements.
