Sun safety - Guide to tanning safely

Introduced by the one and only Coco Chanel in the early 1920’s, the bronzed look very soon took on the status symbol of the wealthy. With all the rich and famous sunbathing with a passion in an attempt to achieve that much coveted bronzed look, it wasn’t long before the not-so rich and famous followed suit.

Sunlight is the main source of Vitamin D and a modicum of sunlight has always been considered very good for developing strong bones. In the beginning, when tanning just started becoming popular, the general notion was that it was good for health too. However, over  period of time a general trend started becoming evident and several studies later, it has been proven beyond a doubt that unprotected exposure to the sun for extended periods of time was a major causative factor for several skin diseases.

Exposure to the sun and ultraviolet rays

Though sun light is good in small doses, it contains UVA and UVB; invisible ultraviolet rays that are very dangerous. UVA rays are associated with wrinkling, skin aging and skin cancer. The tanned look is actually a result of the deeper layers of the skin getting burned by UVA rays. UVB rays, the primary cause of cancer and sunburns, are actually the burning rays of the sun. Both rays, UVA and UVB are extremely dangerous to the skin and you should protect yourself from over-exposure to both.

How tanning is produced - Different types of skin

Tanning may look outwardly good but it is in fact evidence that damage has been done to the skin. The tanned look is a result of melanin, a pigment produced by certain skin cells called melanocytes. When exposed to the sun, excess melanin is produced in order to prevent damage to the skin. An abundance of melanin turns the skin brown, which is in fact a natural shield against the harmful ultraviolet rays.

The reason why people tan differently is because of the varying concentrations of melanin, which offers different levels of natural protection against the sun. When the melatonin is saturated and can no longer absorb any more UV rays, the skin stops tanning and starts getting sun burnt. When this happens, the melanin effectively stops offering the skin any protection.

Certain people, including red-heads, the Irish, Welsh and the Scots have skin type I, which is ultra sensitive and is prone to getting sun burnt without really tanning. On the other hand are the African- Americans, who possess skin type IV, which is deeply pigmented and insensitive to the sun.

Irrespective of whether you are light-skinned or dark skinned, it is always advisable to protect your skin adequately from the damaging rays of the sun. In the present days, this has taken on even more importance because of the depletion of the ozone layer.

Long term effects of exposure to the sun

Getting sun-burnt, which involves some painful skin peeling is the least of your problems if you over-expose yourself to the sun. It is the longer lasting effects that could be more dangerous especially if this over-exposure to the sun commences at before the age of 18, because the skin is more tender and sensitive at this time. Continuous exposure to the sun can and will eventually cause permanent damage to the skin in the form of brown age spots, wrinkles, sagging skin, freckles and blotchiness. Typically continuous over-exposure to the sun causes the skin to appear much older than it really is. Sunlight also weakens the immune system and has an adverse effect on the eyes; it has been proven to cause cataract.

Sun rays in time and space

The concentration of UV rays in the sunlight varies in different seasons and at different altitudes. Around the Equator and during summer the UV rays are at their most potent. Higher altitudes too have high concentrations of UV rays if only because the rays find it easier to break through the Earth’s protective shield.

Thinking that sunlight causes damage only during sunny days and in summer can be a dangerous misconception. Sunlight causes damage to the skin even on days that are overcast as a significant amount of rays manage to penetrate through the clouds and are still strong enough when they reach the earth’s surface. Sunlight can be equally damaging in winter when approximately 80% of the UV rays get reflected by the snow.

Sun Safety - Prevention is better than cure

Most people typically associate sunburn with a day at the beach. That’s not always the case however. some of the worst cases of sunburn are a result of incidental exposure to the sun and not necessarily because of a day or two spent on the beach. However it is simply impossible to avoid going out in the sun for an indefinite period of time; you’re going to have to go out sometime or the other. The best thing you can do for yourself is to protect your skin as much as possible so as to avert potential damage or at least minimize the extent of the damage done.

One of the best things you can do for your skin is to not expose it to the sun between 10 am and 4 pm as that’s the time when the suns rays are the strongest. Don’t be misled into thinking it is okay to stay out during this period if it is a cloudy day; the UV rays are strong enough to penetrate through the clouds and affect the skin adversely.

If you absolutely must go out during these hours; wear long trousers, long-sleeved tops and a hat with a brim so that the skin is not directly exposed to the damaging rays of the sun. 

Sun screens

Sunscreens are specially formulated to offer the skin protection against the harmful effects of the sun’s rays. If you are planning on staying out in the sun for anything over 20 minutes, make sure you apply sunscreen generously over all the areas that are exposed. This should be done at least 15-30 minutes before venturing out tin the sun as the sunscreen takes a while to activate its protective shield. If you intend staying in the sun for a longer time, the sunscreen will have to be applied after about two to three hours.

Different sunscreens are formulated different to suit different skins as well as different purposes. The potency of the sunscreen is indicated by its SPF or Sun Protection Factor, which in turn indicates the maximum amount of time you can stay in the sun safely, without burning.

A sunscreen that has a SPF of 15, protects your skin about 15 times more than the amount of time it takes for the skin to get sun burnt. You can also choose from sweat proof or water proof sunscreens, but remember that these sunscreens too will only provide protection of 80 minutes.

Does sunscreen offer sufficient protection against the sun?

Although sunscreens do offer a degree of protection against the sun, it does not offer total protection. The best thing you can do is to reinforce this protection by wearing full-sleeved protective clothing, staying in the shade as much as possible and avoiding the sun when it is at its hottest between 10am and 4pm.

What about tanning?

The brown color that is got by tanning is a much sought-after sign of beauty. Unfortunately, from a medical point of view tanning is nothing but a sign that some damage has occurred to the skin.

But it’s a catch 22 situation- The only way to really protect your skin is to block out harmful UV rays, but there is no way to get a gorgeous tan unless you expose yourself to these UV rays.

These days there are alternate ways in which you can achieve the tanned look including the sun beds. However, it is thought as these could prove just as harmful in the long run because they too work using UV rays.

Tanning safety - Sunless fake tan

The good news is, there is now an innovative way to acquire a beautiful tanned look without causing your skin any damage. Sunless tanning lotions are a great way of acquiring a tan without the damage inflicted by the rays of the sun. When applied to the skin, these sunless tanning lotions produce a deep tan that is likely to last several days. These self tanning products are safe to use and they are convenient and cheap too. You no longer have to stay out in the sun if you wish to acquire a tan.