Safety is essential when it comes to tanning because it involves the largest organ in your body—the skin. You want to ensure that you are risking too much. With the rise in skin cancer cases in the country, you can only be too careful when it comes to your skin. Tanning is one way to protect our skin from harmful ultraviolet rays by helping your skin produce melatonin. That’s why here are tips on how to tan safely and minimize risks.
Wear Sunscreen
Always wear sunscreen if you are determined to get a tan. Aim to use sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or greater. Make sure you apply sunscreen to every part of your body exposed to the sun to ensure your skin is not burned. You need to apply sunscreen within 20 minutes of staying outside and reapply it every 2 hours. Sunscreen protects your skin from UVB rays which burn your skin, and UVA rays, which age your skin and cause wrinkles.
Avoid the Sun Peak Hours
The sun is strongest between 10 AM and 2 PM and is more likely to burn during this time. While it may be tempting to tan with the sun is at its peak, you are more likely to damage your skin at this time. Avoid tanning at these hours, or take extra precautions if you must. Reapply your sunscreen every 1½ hours during the sun’s peak hours to ensure that you are fully protected. Take regular breaks in the shade and try to cover as much as possible when the sun is at its strongest. Constantly reapply sunscreen after a couple of hours, whether you have been swimming or just resting in the shade.
Hydrate Your Skin After Tanning
Staying hydrated ensures your tan is well maintained. Hydration also soothes your skin after being exposed to the sun. Sun and tanning machines dry out your skin, so you want to nourish and hydrate it after a tanning session. If you get tanned or burned, rub a water-based hydrating cream into your skin afterward. The hydrating cream will feel good on your skin and prevent further inflammation or blistering. It will also preserve your tan for longer. Always drink plenty of water to keep your entire body hydrated.
Go for a Spray Tan
Spray tans are skin-friendly. Most professional tanning boutiques offer spray tanning services if you don’t prefer sun tanning or sunbed tanning. Spray tanning does not cause damage to your skin because it is purely surface-level. If you want more coverage, you can get a spray tan that you can give yourself at home. However, be careful not to breathe the spray product in or get it in your eyes, as it can cause irritation.
Avoid Tanning Pills
Tanning pills are highly harmful to your liver. Although they might sound appealing because they help you avoid sunburn, tanning pills are not FDA-approved since they cause damage elsewhere in the body. They can cause liver damage, vision problems, or break out in hives. Stick to self-tanning lotion and stay away from tanning pills at all costs.
Don’t Mix Sunscreen and Fake Tan
DHA, a carbohydrate found in fake tan, can cause the SPF to break down before use by interfering with the sunscreen’s protective abilities. Therefore, if you want to tan a little before you head outdoors for sun tanning, make sure you apply tanning lotion 24 hours before using sunscreen. You also want to avoid fake tan products with both tanning and SPF protection. This is because any product with DHA is not effective against UV rays.
Use a Self-Tanning Lotion
Using self-tanning at home is the safest way to get a tan. This is because a self-tanning lotion safely coats your skin instead of penetrating it. When using the cream, start by taking a shower and exfoliating your skin with a washcloth to help create more tan. Dry your skin off and apply the lotion section by section using a circular motion. You can wear gloves so that your hands are not overly stained. Apply more product over your joints and run a slightly wet towel. Tanning means that your skin is protecting itself from sun damage by producing melanin, and lotions are safer than sun tanning.
Use Skin Oils With SPF
Oils like avocado, olive, coconut, and almonds have a natural SPF. These oils give your skin a hydration boost and protect it from the sun at the same time. Apply skin and facial oils at night, long before you wear any sunscreen, so the oil does not interfere with the sunscreen’s abilities during the day. However, don’t substitute these oils for proper sunscreen because they don’t have enough SPF to shield your skin entirely. Avoid layering too many products on the skin before applying sunscreen. These products can prevent sunscreen from properly covering your skin.
Cover Your Skin
Always protect your skin with clothing, more so the burned areas. You can wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face from the sun. You can also wear long-sleeve shirts or pants when possible to prevent sunburns. You can uncover during tanning hours, but once you spend some time in the sun, cover up your body again.
Take Away
In conclusion, these are some tips to help you tan safely and minimize risks. Tanning allows you to enjoy the summer season, so you want to do it right. The tips are simple enough. If you tan regularly, visit a dermatologist to check your skin.
BR SunSpa is a full-body spray tanning boutique in Westwood, New Jersey. We offer spray tanning and sunbed tanning services – sunless tanning services. We have partnered with high-end companies to provide you with custom sunless tanning services with the most advanced equipment in the market today. Our staff is Smart Tan Certified and can help you create the best package to meet your tanning needs. Book an appointment with us today!