Given the choice, we would all choose tan over white.
It looks healthier, right? The question is, how healthy is it? And is natural healthier than the tanning salon? Lets take a look! There are three ways to getting that gorgeous tanned body - the natural way, the fake way (tanning salons) and the "other" fake way (sunless tanning).
A tanned body is good - it heightens the definition of the body, it looks great and it makes you desirable.
Is all that positivity though, worth the perils your body may well suffer? Well lets take a look at them individually.
Traditional (sun) tanning - is it safe? Tanning is, in essence, the skin's reaction to damage already done, and a defensive attempt to protect itself from further harm.
So when you head out into the sun soaked garden, don't forget your shades, your towel and your sun block! So is soaking up the sun dangerous? It can be, as the suns UV radiation beats down on your body, it literally burns the skin - your tan is your body's natural defence against this, a healing mechanism, a scab if you like.
This is a big risk for skin cancer.
If you are going to tan in the sun, avoid tanning between the hours of 12 and 3 as this is when the sun is at its most ferocious.
Use a low factor sunblock.
Be cautious if you go in the water, as some sunblocks are not waterproof and wear a sunhat, and t-shirt.
Using sunbeds.
These attempt to eliminate the UV rays coming into contact with the skin, at the same time as giving you that healthy tan that you so desire.
On top of this they also control your exposure to UV rays, thus reducing the risk of you getting skin cancer.
There is however still a risk - The British Association of Dermatologists recommend spending no more than 10 hours a year in sunbeds.
Can you imagine having just 10 hours of sunshine in a year.
Does this mean none of us are safe? Fake Tans! These are the safest! There are bronzing powders, usually applied to the face like blusher, the tan you apply for a day and then wash off when you shower, and the self tanner.
The latter is the most complex, but basically contains a chemical called dihydroxyacetone which is absorbed by the surface skin cells and turns brown in the presence of oxygen.
The tan lasts until these cells naturally shed.
Tips for this type of tan, involve exfoliation of dead cells and moisturisation of the skin prior to application in order to give the best possible tan absorption.
Also the application of the lightest shade as you can always darken it later.
It appears that the safest method is fake tan via lotions, followed by total avoidance of the sun's rays - if you can't do that, then still use a low SPF sun cream when you go out in the sun, because even if your tan is fake you can still burn and you don't want to end up looking like a slice of toast that's been under the grill for too long, now do you?
It looks healthier, right? The question is, how healthy is it? And is natural healthier than the tanning salon? Lets take a look! There are three ways to getting that gorgeous tanned body - the natural way, the fake way (tanning salons) and the "other" fake way (sunless tanning).
A tanned body is good - it heightens the definition of the body, it looks great and it makes you desirable.
Is all that positivity though, worth the perils your body may well suffer? Well lets take a look at them individually.
Traditional (sun) tanning - is it safe? Tanning is, in essence, the skin's reaction to damage already done, and a defensive attempt to protect itself from further harm.
So when you head out into the sun soaked garden, don't forget your shades, your towel and your sun block! So is soaking up the sun dangerous? It can be, as the suns UV radiation beats down on your body, it literally burns the skin - your tan is your body's natural defence against this, a healing mechanism, a scab if you like.
This is a big risk for skin cancer.
If you are going to tan in the sun, avoid tanning between the hours of 12 and 3 as this is when the sun is at its most ferocious.
Use a low factor sunblock.
Be cautious if you go in the water, as some sunblocks are not waterproof and wear a sunhat, and t-shirt.
Using sunbeds.
These attempt to eliminate the UV rays coming into contact with the skin, at the same time as giving you that healthy tan that you so desire.
On top of this they also control your exposure to UV rays, thus reducing the risk of you getting skin cancer.
There is however still a risk - The British Association of Dermatologists recommend spending no more than 10 hours a year in sunbeds.
Can you imagine having just 10 hours of sunshine in a year.
Does this mean none of us are safe? Fake Tans! These are the safest! There are bronzing powders, usually applied to the face like blusher, the tan you apply for a day and then wash off when you shower, and the self tanner.
The latter is the most complex, but basically contains a chemical called dihydroxyacetone which is absorbed by the surface skin cells and turns brown in the presence of oxygen.
The tan lasts until these cells naturally shed.
Tips for this type of tan, involve exfoliation of dead cells and moisturisation of the skin prior to application in order to give the best possible tan absorption.
Also the application of the lightest shade as you can always darken it later.
It appears that the safest method is fake tan via lotions, followed by total avoidance of the sun's rays - if you can't do that, then still use a low SPF sun cream when you go out in the sun, because even if your tan is fake you can still burn and you don't want to end up looking like a slice of toast that's been under the grill for too long, now do you?
SHARE
