The Dos and Don’ts of Tanning!

The summer days are thriving and you should be soaking up every bit, literally. We’re not talking about running through the sprinklers at your local park or divingMan Sun Tanning into a welcoming pool in the sweltering heat. We’re talking about tanning! You should be soaking up some sun and getting the best of it before the winter comes to terrorize you with dry skin. Tanning is a welcomed practice, however, we at Rao Dermatology believe everything should be done in a safe and moderate way. The sun, as lovely as it is, is packed with UV Rays that can cause skin cancer and other skin diseases. These tips below will help you practice safe tanning so you can feel comfortable and look radiant while you enjoy your summer.

Always wear Sunscreen

Whether you’re a naturalist or you subscribe to using pre-packaged store-bought brands, using sunscreen is a must. Protection from UVA and UVB radiation is imperative due to the stammering and grave harm, primarily skin cancer, which can result from exposure. Use sunscreen that is combative and states explicitly that it contains UVA/UVB protection, and most importantly, ensure it contains other health benefits such as replenishing and nourishing your skin.

Use other skin products with UVA/UVB protection

It’s easy to think that you have the ultimate protection once you have drowned your body in sunscreen. However, other parts of your body also need adequate coverage. If you are wearing make-up, it should be able to defend you from the sun. Skinceuticals has a highly effective line of sunscreen-based lip and eye protection to give you maximum coverage for your tanning excursions.

Limit your “Face time”

Your face is much more sensitive than the rest of your body. At no point should they both be exposed to the sun for equal amounts of time.  Dermatologists recommend a maximum of 10 minutes face-tanning time. Anything longer than the allotted time can result in premature aging, dark spots, wrinkles, and discolouration. Also aim to exfoliate prior to sun tanning; it will kill dead cells and cleanse your pores.

 Don’t Bake Your Skin

First –time tanners can tan for about 20 minutes and increase each time by five to ten minutes. However, monitor your skin. Do not stay in the sun for more than 1.5 – 2 hours.