Sun Tanning Facts, Risks & Protection Tips

Facts About Sun Tanning 

Sun Tanning FactsNow when the spring is here, and the dark cold winter is behind us, more and more begin to think how to get their pale skin tanned again. In this review you can read about sun tanning facts and sun tanning risks to help you pass this coming summer safely. Sun tanning can be dangerous especially when it is done without basic knowledge of the sun harmful side effects, in this review we will focus on outside tanning natural tanning, and not on indoor tanning booths.

When you think of tanning your body out at the pool or at the sea, there are facts you need to take into account. In this review we will not tell you what to do, we believe everyone has the right to decide on their own body, but it is important that the decision will come from knowing the facts about sun tanning.

The sun sends two kind of ultraviolets rays that effect our tanning, when we expose our body for a few hours lying back in the sun, our body is covered with both UV (Ultra Violet rays) A and B.

The UVB are shorter light wave rays that are sent from the sun, the longer Ultra-Violet rays are the UVA.

Facts About UVB Sun Shorter Rays

  • The UVB – The shorter rays usually effect the upper skin layers the Epidermis. 
  • The UVB rays are stronger at summer than at winter (northern hemisphere) because at summer the sun is closer to the earth.
  • UVB rays though penetrate only the top layer, simulate the melanocyte cells to produce more melanin (The melanin produces the color in the body) this over production can cause freckles, hyperpigmentation – dark spots, and skin cancer Melanoma.
  • UVB can accelerates the development of skin cancer.
  • UVB rays are harmful in the U.S from April till October, the south part of earth gets UVB sun rays from spring to autumn.
  • UVB can be doubled at reflective areas like snow or desert, then the UVB bounces back and hits the skin twice.
  • The UVB does not penetrate glass and cloth, so wearing protective gear can prevent most of the UVB from reaching the body.

Facts About UVA – Longer Sun Rays

  • The UVA – The longer Ultra-Violet sun rays penetrate deeper into the skin and affect the Dermis layer, which is below the Epidermis.
  • UVA sun rays are active and harmful all year round, summer, winter, spring and autumn. UVA is just out there all the time.
  • UVA can penetrate different kind of materials, like X rays… Cloth, hats, windows, light curtains.
  • UVA effects can be seen at the hands and necks of many women, even when they do not do sun tanning, as the rays hit and damage the exposed skin even at winter.
  • In the past years more and more studies proved that UVA damages skin cells in the basal layer of the epidermis. The UVA sun rays cause most of the deeper skin cancers diseases.
  • UVA rays cause women skin to wrinkle.

Sun Tanning Facts

Because the fact UVA sun rays are around all year round, and like X rays they can penetrate light covers, we are actually being ‘sun tanned’ all year round.

The UVA is causing deeper cells to react to the Ultra Violet and this shows in our later years as age spots and wrinkles. The effects of the UVA sun tanning does not show on the Epidermis (the outer skin layer), so we are not aware of the long term effects.

Most people feel they do sun tanning at the summer only when the short UVB rays penetrate the upper layer. The sun tanning color everyone so adores is caused by the melanin production of brown color, as the skin is trying to protect it self from the UVB rays.

Sun Tanning Protection Facts

There are several ways to do safe sun tanning, and to lower the chances to develop skin cancer (The fact is this that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer! With over 2 million Americans affected each year). The protection facts are based on UVA and UVB protection, which can be a different type of protection.

The SPF everyone knows is a protection for sun tanning UVB only, there is no protection rating for UVA rays which are harmful at December just like at midday June. So you need to look for the UVA + UVB protection sign for the complete protection coverage.

  • UVB Protection – From April till October, stay away from sun tanning between 10:00-16:00 at these hours earth is at the closest distance from the sun, (June-July) and the UVB short waves are the most powerful.
  • UVB Protection – When beginning sun tanning do it gradually, first few times sun tan at the afternoon, then sun bath short time (half an hour) at the “hot’ hours. The melanin production will cause brown color to show but it will be done gradually.
  • Use UVB SPF protection – At the summer days, use it all day long, even when you are not officially “Sun Tanning”, it will protect the body and lower the penetration of the UVB rays.
  • When Sun Tanning – Use SPF protection creams and sun screens with high SPF as you find. The minimum SPF  to look for is SPF 15, see this SPF 65 Complete Sun Block Protection. Keep new sun screen lotion layer rubbed again and again.
  • Don’t Fool Yourself – If you are in the sun for hours and did not get sun burned… It is because you blocked the shorter UVB rays, your body still was baked by UVA (deeper damage Ultra-Violet).
  • Look for Broad Spectrum Sun Protection – Many brands of sun blocks and sun guards today are UVA + UVB full sprectum protection, use them.
  • Children Sun Tanning – Children skin is more vulnerable to both UVA and UVB because it is thinner and less protected (children are more pale after winter), protect them from the sun, the damage of the UVA rays will show ten years later, when it is too late for them.
  • UVA protection – Since UVA can penetrate cloth, hair and non-direct exposure, walk in the shade, sit in the shade, wear wide rim hat, use UVA sunglasses, and cover skin when you can.
  • Anti-Aging Tip – Use UVA sun block on hands, use gloves when driving, cover neck with sun scarf, use UVA protection in make-up on face and neck to prevent early wrinkles, and age spots.

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