Beach Tanning

By theguideto

They say that the three reasons people love to go to the beach all start with an S: the sea, the sand, and the sun. The beach is also the perfect place to do a number of activities starting with S — swimming, sailing, snorkeling, skinny-dipping, sports and of course, sunbathing. There is no better place to get a lovely suntan than the beach. Why not? While trying to darken your skin as you bathe in sunshine, the beach also offers scenic views, serene environment, surprising events and seductive people.

Sun tanning is the natural method of making your skin look darker. The skin’s exposure to the sun, specifically the ultraviolet rays it gives out, triggers the increased production of the brown-colored pigment called melanin. Melanin acts as a shield to protect us from harmful UV radiation. Sun tanning remains to be the most common and most popular method of getting a tan. It is accessible. It is natural. Most of all, it is free.

Beach Tanning Dangers

However, the sun can also cause a lot of not-so-pretty stuff that begin with S — sunburns, sagging skin and wrinkles, spots and freckles, and the last thing we want to have, skin cancer. The severity and incidence of skin cancer all over the globe has been increasing because of our obsession to getting a suntan. So to avoid these unwanted damages, we need to have extra protection.

Using sunscreens or sun block is the most common way of minimizing the harmful effects of the sun while getting a tan. Sunscreens block the ultraviolet rays (UVA and UVB). They have a so-called SPF or sun protection factor. The level of SPF varies from one product to another and they depend on the amount of time you are going to stay under the sun. The longer you plan to sunbathe, the higher the SPF your skin needs.

Reminders

You also have to know several significant reminders before embracing the sun. First, bear in mind that the sun is strongest between 10am and 4pm. The higher the sun is, the more UV rays it emits, the more you are prone to damage. Second, always wear sunglasses. It is not just your skin that can be damaged. Your eyes are in danger, too. Third, if you are under medication, make sure that it is safe for you to go getting a suntan. Several medications like antibiotics, some antidepressants, and acne medications increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight.

Being close to nature doesn’t excuse you from being careless. Sunbathing on a beach may look like a really enjoyable and relaxing way to get a tan but you still need to protect your skin. Always think about the most important thing. It starts with an S, too — safety.

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Beach Tanning

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