Any fair-skinned person knows how difficult it is to tan well. Fair skin is more susceptible to damage from ultraviolet (UV) rays, such as sunburn, which is much more common in light-skinned people than in dark-skinned people. Furthermore, this damage is not only painful and unsightly, but in the long term it can also lead to diseases, such as skin cancer. Fortunately, there are many ways to get a nice tan during the summer even for those with fair complexions.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using Self Tanners
Step 1. Assess the health risks
Although doctors believe that self-tanners are a viable alternative to UV exposure, these products are not without contraindications. The most common active ingredient in self-tanners is dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which interacts with the amino acids of the outer layer of the epidermis, triggering the tan. Scientists have shown that DHA in high concentrations causes DNA damage. However, DHA can be used on the skin, where it is mostly absorbed by dead cells. To reduce the risks, avoid spray products (which may be inadvertently inhaled) and rinse excess self-tanner from your palms. Also, remember that some individuals may suffer from allergies, resulting in contact dermatitis.
Step 2. Choose the right self tanner
If you have a fair complexion, you should purchase the least intense shade available. Products that offer a very dark tan contain higher concentrations of dihydroxyacetone and may also leave an orange-tinged color that is definitely unnatural on a light-skinned person.
Step 3. Exfoliate the skin
If you remove excess dead skin before applying self-tanner, the color lasts longer. Gently scrub your body with a towel or loofah. When finished, pat dry with a cloth.
Step 4. Massage the product into the skin
Avoid areas near the eyes, nose and mouth. There are two methods to avoid staining your palms:
- Wear latex or nitrile gloves during this operation;
- Spread the self-tanner in distinct sections (arms, legs, torso and face) by washing your hands between each area.
Step 5. Wait for the self tanner to dry
Wait at least 10 minutes before getting dressed and at least six hours before bathing or swimming. Apply the product every day, until you get the tan you want.
Step 6. Limit sun exposure for 24 hours after using a DHA product
If you have to stay in the sun, spread a cream with SPF. Although dihydroxyacetone offers temporary protection from UV rays, it is able to temporarily increase the production of reactive oxygen species stimulated by UV rays. These molecules are the main factor contributing to sun damage, worsening both the health and the aesthetic appearance of the skin.
Method 2 of 3: Tanning from the Outside
Step 1. Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin 30 minutes before going outside
Purchase a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays. Dermatologists recommend a SPF 15 product at a minimum, but people who have really very fair skin should wear one with a stronger shade.
Step 2. Reapply sunscreen as needed
Most manufacturers recommend putting it on every 2 to 3 hours. However, reapply it even more often if necessary, especially if the complexion is very fair. Make sure you apply it again 15-30 minutes after doing any type of activity that may have partially eliminated it, such as sweating, swimming, or wiping with a towel.
Step 3. Expose yourself to the sun in several sessions for many days, weeks or even months
At first, stay in the sun every day for only about 15 minutes. After a week, you can get to a maximum of half an hour. Get out of the sun even earlier than the scheduled time if you start to burn yourself. Although many people are led to think that staying in the sun for a longer time and under more intense rays allows them to tan faster, in reality this is not entirely true, especially for those with fair complexions. The optimal amount of time for the sun's rays to stimulate melanin production without damaging the skin is only about 30 minutes.
Step 4. Don't stay in the sun when it's too strong
The time slot in which the sun's rays cause the most damage is between 10:00 and 16:00. So try to get a tan early in the morning or late in the afternoon. If you can't avoid sun exposure during this time, be sure to wear sunscreen with a higher SPF.
Step 5. Put on a hat and sunglasses
A wide-brimmed hat protects the delicate scalp, but at the same time provides some diffused light to tan the face. Glasses protect the eyes from harmful rays, which can cause cataracts and other vision problems. Be careful not to fall asleep when wearing them, to avoid embarrassing tan marks (or burns) on your face.
Step 6. Protect your lips with lip balm containing SPF
The lips can also burn easily, like all the rest of the skin. Furthermore, the sun can also dehydrate them very quickly, causing painful cracking. Conditioner with SPF offers protection from both of these types of damage.
Method 3 of 3: Tanning Safely
Step 1. Remember that there is no absolutely safe way to get a tan
Even taking all possible precautions, the sun's rays can lead to health problems in the future. Dermatologists say that any UV-induced change in natural skin tone indicates damage. Make sure you weigh the aesthetic benefits of a good tan versus the long-term health risks.
Step 2. Please consider any drug therapy you are undergoing
Some medicines, such as retinoids and certain antibiotics, can greatly increase the sensitivity of the skin and make it more susceptible to sun damage. Before going out in the sun, carefully read the warnings on the packaging of the drug, vitamins or other supplements you are taking. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns.
If you are taking any type of non-prescription herbal supplement or product, it is very important to do some research on your own. Although this type of product is regulated by the Ministry of Health, all the warnings and indications on the packaging are not always given, especially since there is a large online market, within which it is not easy to trace the origin of the product, its quality and the actual content
Step 3. Avoid sun beds and tanning lamps
These tools use high intensity ultraviolet rays which are often too strong, especially for fair skin. Although advertised as a safe alternative to natural sunlight, tanning lamps actually pose a greater health risk:
- Promote premature skin aging;
- They favor eye diseases that cause blindness;
- They can be a vehicle for infectious diseases, such as herpes and warts, if they are not cleaned properly between uses.
Step 4. Don't take tanning pills
Currently, there are no medicines approved by the Ministry of Health to improve skin color. These products contain a pigment called canthaxanthin (E161g) which some scholars believe to be toxic to the liver and retina.
Advice
- Remember that it is more important to protect your health than to have a perfect tan.
- If you wear makeup, you can use a bronzer as a temporary alternative to more long-lasting methods.
- Even if tanned skin is in fashion, try to be satisfied with your natural color. This way, the epidermis will be in good health, as well as saving you a lot of time and effort.
Warnings
- Stop using any skin products that cause irritation.
- If you find yourself starting to burn, take shelter in the shade immediately.
- Don't believe the cliché that a certain degree of "background" tan can protect the skin from sun damage. Scientific studies have shown that the skin of fair-skinned people who have tanned a little only has an SPF between 2 and 3. Remember that the minimum effective SPF is 15.
