Don’t Bake, Just Fake It
If you take my advice from previous articles and begin spending more time in the sun, please do so with caution. The days of iodine infused baby oil for a deep dark tropical tan ended when NBC dropped the Baywatch series.
Fortunately I didn’t totally damage my skin from perpetual and abusive sunbathing as a teenager. However, 30 years later, and ugly splotches of hyperpigmentation as proof—I must admit, my mother was right, again. A little bit of sun goes a long way if you protect your skin.
After coming off spring break in Florida with my daughter, who loves the sun-kissed look, I found myself giving the same advice my mother once gave me. There is no denying that a tan looks great—just make sure you use preventative measures to get one safely.
A featured article in americancancerfund.org explains the different types of rays the sun emits and the effects of each. Ultra violet or UV radiation is part of the electromagnetic light spectrum that reaches the earth from the sun. There are three different types of UV radiation; UVA, B and C.
UVC is the strongest wavelength but not dangerous to humans because it is the shortest and usually gets absorbed by the ozone layer before it reaches the earth. UVB is responsible for most burns. UVA is the least intense, but the most deeply penetrating and the primary cause of wrinkles. Both UVA and UVB cause premature skin aging, eye damage, (i.e. cataracts), and skin cancer.
Although they are less intense than UVB rays, UVA rays account for 95 percent of the sun’s rays and are 30-50 times more common. UVA rays are relatively constant all day, every day and can penetrate through clouds and glass.
Even though UV radiation gives us some desired color, it damages the skin’s cellular DNA and can produce genetic mutations leading to skin cancer. Tanning beds are just as harmful. The tanning bed bulbs emit UVA radiation which is less likely to burn you but still attributes to premature aging of the skin.
UVB rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from April through October in the U.S. but can burn you all year round. You are especially vulnerable to UVB rays around snow and ice since 80 percent of rays are bounced back at you therefore causing you double the exposure.
Resist the temptation to bake and instead follow these steps for a safe way to get a healthy glow.
• Use lotion sunscreens daily with an SPF of 15 or higher; reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating. Spray sunscreens are convenient, but from personal experience, not as effective at adequately covering exposed skin. Also, sunscreens with protection higher than 30 SPF aren’t necessarily more effective but oftentimes more expensive.
• Cover up with UV clothing, broad-brimmed hats and UV blocking sunglasses. Since my hyperpigmentation diagnosis—when I do expose my skin to the sun for extended amounts of time, I will do so with special UV clothing that covers my chest and arms. Athleta.com and other sporting goods stores have a variety of protective outdoor clothing that is lightweight, breathable and odor proof.
• Try a fake tan. I would NEVER condone the use tanning beds and neither should you. Yes, in college I did visit the tanning bed a time or two. With Mom not there to caution me and scientific evidence not as readily available—it seemed harmless. But, with information comes empowerment to make better choices.
According to Dr. Oz whose beliefs are firmly aligned with those of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), ‘excessive ultraviolet radiation of any kind can lead to skin cancer.’ As a safer alternative try a spray tan. Although slightly more expensive, a spray tan is harmless and gives immediate results.
From experience, I would recommend you opt for a lighter shade in the beginning to see how your skin tone responds. A spray tan only lasts about a week, but it looks surprisingly natural.
Finally, seek shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., most definitely keep newborns out of the sun and see your physician every year for a skin exam.
A tan can look great, but the long term effects are damaging, unappealing and potentially dangerous.
For questions or comments email: suzannemcginnis@me.com