Tanning as become popular after the famous Coco Chanel introduced darker skin color and made it the stylish thing to do. Ever since then women have been trying to get the cherished dusk skin color and dermatologist have been trying to figure out a way to bring paleness back into fashion. Is summer sun really harmful, can tanning be dangerous, who should stay away from sun tanning, & what is the right way to tan to avoid skin problems? We set on a quest to answer all of these questions and here is what we found out.

Let’s start with what tan is. Tan is the skin’s defense reaction to the harmful effects of ultraviolet. The radiation goes through a large number of skin layers and not only heats up the skin but also influences the cells’ DNA, causing mutations. That is the reason why the skin protects itself. The epidermis, top skin layer, contains the cells called melanocytes that become activated in response to sunrays’ impact and produce the pigment called melanin thus creating the dusk interlayer which serves as a filter. This interlayer is what absorbs most of the ultraviolet, preventing its penetration into deeper skin layers. Figuratively speaking tan is the “umbrella” opened by the skin to protect itself from ultraviolet rays.

The tan itself or the dusk skin color is the final product. The beginning stage is the inflammation. Before becoming dusk the skin turns pink or red. The inflammation of higher degree causes sunburn along with blisters and pigment spots. Doctors have actually linked sunburns to cancer. Sunburns received in childhood increase the chances of development of melanoma, one of the most dangerous malignant tumors. Sunburns received at adult age increase the chances of skin cancer development. The tan itself is not harmful but it has to go through the sunburn stage, and sunburns are actually very dangerous. Besides tan has the tendency to accumulate, which means that all sunburns stay in the skin cells’ DNA. Burns received in childhood can surface and affect you even if you never tanned as an adult.

There are several types of skin based on its ability to suntan. People with the first skin type never get a tan but actually receive sunburn after being in the sun for only half an hour. People with the second skin type hardly ever get a tan and easily get sunburns. For people with the third skin type staying in the sun causes a slight burn, which then turns into tan, which can be pretty intense a lot of times. People with the fourth skin type suntan easily without getting sunburns. People with the fifth and sixth skin types have an increase level of melanin and can bear sun in any quantity without getting sunburned. Usually the Caucasians have their skin sensitivity anywhere from the first up to the fourth skin types.

There are people who should never tan. These are the people who have first and second skin types, or people with cancer, or those who have a history of melanomas in their family. You are not allowed to be tanning during chemo therapy or while on antibiotics, since it can cause skin’s hyper pigmentation. People suffering with psoriasis, chronic disease of the immune system that appears on the skin, usually in the form of thick, red, scaly patches, should be extremely careful about tanning, in some cases sun can treat the outbursts but in some cases it can make them even worse. Pregnant women should stay away from the sun as well.

So what is the right way to tan? Preferably you should start tanning in early spring so that by the time summer rolls around you already have a safe tan. If that is not something you can realistically accomplish then at least stay away from the sun from 10am till 4pm when the sun rays are the strongest. You can prepare your skin by going to the tanning salon, which is still harmful but as the saying goes you should choose the lesser of two evils.

Keep in mind that your skin suntans faster in the water, which serves as the lens and amplifies the sun’s strength. The sunrays go into the water up to the depth of 3 feet. It is especially easy to burn if you stay in the sun right after swimming. In this case the water creates little lenses all over your skin which increases the chances of getting sunburn.

In case you do get sunburned here are a few things you can do. Soak a cloth in equal parts cold water and milk and apply to the burned area. You can also take a cold shower or a cold bath, just make sure to avoid soap. Use the aloe vera gel or aloe vera ice cubes to soothe your skin. Make sure to wear loose-fitting cotton clothes so that it doesn’t irritate the affected skin. Also drink a lot of water, if you are sunburned you get dehydrated easily. Finally, try to avoid getting sunburned next time by following the tips you’ve learned so far and using lots of sunscreen.

A common question is do sunscreens with SPF protect your skin. They do protect your skin from inflammation or burns, but not from the harmful impact of ultraviolet rays. If you tan and at the same time don’t burn the risk of developing a melanoma does not actually decrease. In this case the best defense is light cotton clothes that are not snug at all. Although you will not get tan wearing that.

Usually you chose the sunscreen based on your skin type and what exactly you are trying to achieve. The sunscreen with SPF 100 protects your skin a 100% but this protection acts only for a short while after the cream’s application. In this case you will not get a tan. If your goal is to actually get tan you are better off with sunscreen with SPF 15-20.

A lot of people nowadays use auto tanning lotions. We recommend using them in cases of extreme necessity. Anything that’s applied to skin especially on a large area gets inside your body – these auto tanning lotions get absorbed, go through liver and get deactivated. It’s not worth it to put your body through additional burdens.

Another popular concern is the sun aging your skin. The negative impact of the sun is very apparent when demonstrated on the grape. The ripe berries get dried out in the sun and turn into raisins. The same thing happens to the skin of those people who tan in excessive amounts. The advocates and opponents of tanning will look very different. There actually has been an experiment conducted on two twin sisters, one of which lived in California and the other one in the north of the USA. The latter one looked way younger than the one living in California and being exposed to sun all the time.

Of course it is impossible to stay away from the sun completely, but following the tips mentioned above will ensure better and safer tanning.

Julian Sagan is the CEO and owner of a Penis Enlargement Products company. Dedicated to providing factual information about various penis enlargement products available on the market today. Copyright 2007 Julian Sagan of Penis Enlargement Products. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, they begin to work within around 40 minutes to an hour.

DHA is a dull (in coloring) sugar, which is important in the metabolism of carbohydrates.

It interacts with the dead cells located in the stratum corneum or outermost layer of the epidermis. In other words: DHA reacts with amino acids in the epidermis, producing a natural pigment called melanoidin that bonds with proteins in skin cells.

And results are a change of color that can last up to about seven days.

There are a couple of things to note here:
First: although melanoidin is produced, and melanoidin and melanin (the dark pigment that enables a sun tan to develop via UV exposure) work together in the absorption of harmful rays, a self-tan only provides about a SPF 2, more or less, not high enough to offer enough protection.

So take care to wear protective outer garments, eyewear, etc. and / or a sunscreen.

And second: note for a quick overview that in general, sunless tanning products that are out on the market today are reported to provide users with pretty much real looking tanning results.

From start of application of the tanning product until complete drying time (about three hours), you can have a sunless tan that can last all week. The chemical makeup of the products versus where and how they interact with the different parts of your body can affect tanning results; i.e. some areas may demonstrate different color variations and the tanning may last longer.

So: Where does the tan go?

Dead skin cells rub and wear off the epidermis, resulting in the fading or losing of the tan.

In fact roughly once a month or a period between 35 to 45 days, the epidermis is all rejuvenated. In order to keep a tan going long-term, many companies recommend that you reapply their sunless and self-tanning products approximately every three days. Some products last longer and wear better than others, too.

So experimenting, even with products that do not list DHA in the ingredients, might prove to be rewarding.br
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Skin takes a lot of wear and tear, so it naturally regenerates itself. Every 35-45 days the outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is completely replaced. Since skin pigment is found in this upper layer, any natural or added pigment will be sloughed away in about one months time. This is why natural tans fade and why many self-tanning products recommend you re-apply the product every few days to maintain your tan.

Self-tanning products, also called sunless tanning lotions, contain dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a colorless sugar that interacts with dead surface cells in the epidermis, staining the skin darker. The effect is temporary, because as the dead cells naturally slough off, the color fades, disappearing within a week unless the lotion has been reapplied. Thats a lot more healthful than a suntan, however, because while suntans also start fading after a few days, the harm done to the skin is permanent.

Getting a suntan breaks down the DNA in skin cells, but using self-tanners causes no such damage. At worst, sunless tanning products present a minimal risk of irritant or allergic reactions.

1. Self-tanning takes time. Allow AT LEAST a half hour, although an hour would be best. But dont be discouraged; it would still take longer to get the same amount of color from the sun and with self-tanners there is absolutely no risk of wrinkles, skin cancer, or sunburn!

2. Take a quick shower or bath (dont soak) and exfoliate your skin, either with a washcloth or body scrub. Dont overscrub, but do pay extra attention to your knees, ankles, feet, elbows, and neck. This will help achieve a uniform appearance since self-tanners grab on to dry surface skin cells, and you may have more dead, thickened skin cells in certain areas. After showering and completely drying off, apply a thin layer of lightweight moisturizer over the areas where you will be applying self-tanner. This will help the self-tanner glide on without clinging to dry patches. A little extra moisturizer over ankles, knees, and elbows can prevent those areas from looking patchy. I have seen some recommendations to mix self-tanner with your moisturizer, but I advise against this because it will encourage streaking (unless you can precisely mix them which isnt easy) plus it will take longer for the self-tanner to absorb and dry.

Perspiration also will make self-tanners streak, so take a cool shower or bath to keep from sweating. Your skin must be completely dry to get the best results. Do not apply self-tanner in a steamy, hot bathroom or on a humid, hot day (unless your home is air-conditioned).

3. Ideally, you should apply the self-tanner while naked, but you can also wear an old bathing suit (one you dont plan to wear outside) to help determine where you want your tan line to end. Either way, have a game plan of where you want to stop and start the color. (Do you want tan armpits? What about places like your heels, hands, and ears?) Remember that self-tanners will stain clothing until they completely absorb into the skin and take effect on the skin cell.

Applying self-tanner on your back requires a friend with a helping hand, although you can use a long-handled paintbrush (note that this poses some issues of potential dripping and uneven application if you are not able to blend the product in)./pbr
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