Safe tanning. How to avoid negative effects?

One of the things associated with summer and holidays is sunbathing. For many people, tanned skin is desirable. Some of them will want to get it as soon as possible. Unfortunately, rushing it most often results in sunburn. What is the best way to get a tan, and why is it so important to do it wisely?

Why should you protect your skin from the sun?

The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It’s responsible for many important functions. It is a barrier against the external environment – mechanical damage and microorganisms. Furthermore, it takes part in temperature regulation and protects against overheating, e.g. due to the sweat glands. Thanks to the receptors, it allows the reception of such stimuli as touch, warmth and cold. Moreover, melanin included in its structure protects against the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation.

On very sunny days and during sunbathing, the skin needs support and special care. Thanks to this, we will not only avoid the painful consequences of sunburn, which can lower the body's immunity, but also will help us avoid premature aging of the skin. The greatest benefit of safe sunbathing is minimizing the risk of skin cancer.

Safe tanning – is it possible?

For many people, safe sunbathing is not associated with practically giving up the possibility of sunbathing. Nothing could be more wrong. Whether being in the sun will end up with an unpleasant effect for us depends mainly on our decisions. Safe tanning is possible, but only if certain rules are followed. So what is the safest way to tan?

How to tan safely – rules to follow:

• Choose the right time of the day (avoid sunbathing between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. when sunlight is most harmful)
• Dose sun exposure (it is worth getting used to it gradually - the first tanning should last a few minutes, and with subsequent sessions this time can be increased)
• Choose a sunscreen cream (don't forget to adjust its power to your skin type)
• Apply SPF cream regularly (according to recommendations it should be applied every 3-4 hours or after swimming in the water)
• Protect birthmarks and sensitive parts of the body
• Cover the body and head (for this wear clothing made of airy material, for example linen)
• Drink plenty of fluids (a long time in the sun can lead to dehydration)
• Take care of your skin after sunbathing (after sunbathing, the skin may be dry and irritated, so it is worth applying moisturizing creams after sunbathing)

Which sunscreen should you choose?

The choice of a cream with sunscreen should be dictated by the type of complexion and complexion, i.e. the phototype.

What is an SPF Marking?

In the abbreviation, SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It tells you how long you can stay in the sun from the moment you put the filter on until you get burns. What does this mean exactly? Assuming that without the use of the filter, a person would get burns after 10 minutes, after applying the SPF 15 filter, this time will increase to 150 minutes (10 minutes x 15 SPF = 150 minutes). In this case, thanks to the use of a filter, the tanning time is extended to 2.5 hours.

Which sunscreen should you choose?

People with fair complexion, who tend to sunburn easily, should use the strongest filter - SPF 50. On the other hand, people with darker skin tones, who tan quite quickly to brown, can opt for the SPF 30 cream and lower. However, the best and safest solution for every type of skin is to use the SPF 50 filter. It guarantees the highest level of skin protection.

Chemical or mineral filter – which one to choose?

Choosing the right SPF is not all. When selecting sunscreen, it is worth paying attention to whether the selected filter is chemical or mineral. What is the difference between them? Mineral filters physically block the sun's rays, and chemical filters either absorb or disperse them. Moreover, the first one is able to block the full spectrum of radiation. Unfortunately, their consistency is quite thick, and it can stain clothes. Before we decide to buy a chemical filter, we should check whether it will protect us not only against UVB but also UVA radiation. In its case, you should also avoid products which ingredients include oxybenzone, which is toxic to the body and the environment.

How long to sunbathe?

Safe tanning also includes adjusting the time spent in the sun to your skin type. The way to extend it is, of course, using sunscreen. However, filters also have their limitations, so before you start sunbathing, it is worth knowing the phototype of your skin. In the case of the lightest skin types (Celtic phototype), it is recommended not to exceed 5 minutes and, according to the recommendations, never sunbathe. Another phototype – Northern European, is characterized by a fair complexion and is easily burned, therefore an SPF 50 filter should be used. People with a Central European phototype experience reddening of the skin, but less often it turns into burns. In their case, a filter with a minimum value of SPF 30 is recommended. In turn, the Mediterranean phototype tans quickly and easily, and the risk of burns is very small. Higher phototypes are for people with dark skin color, which naturally protects against burns.