I tell you what, it really seemed like it took forever this year, but the summer finally made it. As far as most people are concerned, this is going to mean getting some much wanted sun.
As you spend some time in the sun this year, getting a nice looking tan, it’s more important than ever to make sure you follow a few tips to keep your skin healthy and safe, while at the same time, letting some sunlight give you the glow you wanted all winter.
What is a good SPF to use?
While there is no such thing as “safe tanning”, there are a few ways that you can try to reduce the damage you are doing to your skin while you are out in the sunlight, or in a tanning bed at your local salon.
Assuming that you may go somewhere by the water with the hot sun hitting your skin, you need to be sure to wear a good sunscreen. You can’t block 100% of harmful UVB’s, but a good sunscreen with SPF 45 is intended to block 98% of the dreaded UVB rays that come from the sun.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if you will be swimming, your sunblock will wear off much faster than if you are out of the water. It is a good idea to reapply sunscreen each time you get out of the water, or at least every couple of hours.
And if you don’t go to the water, and you decide that the local salon is the place to go, keep in mind that you will want to be cautious there as well.
Indoor tanning salon:
Being in a tanning bed is safer than being exposed in the sun, but that does not mean that they are “safe”. Even in a tanning bed, you really should be applying a good sunblock because your skin will still be exposed to harmful UVB rays that can give you a bad sunburn which causes skin damage.
If you choose to tan in a salon and you have your own goggles, be sure to bring them with you and wear them, or you can use the ones that the salon provides for you free of charge. Goggles provide essential protection for your eyes while you are exposed to the UVB rays from the bed.
What are the alternatives?
If you really want to be safe and have a little bit of color, you could always try some of the sunless tanning methods. You can find these lotions almost anywhere and they can give you some skin color for a period of around 3 days.
You could also try spray tanning from your local salon, which can last quite a bit longer than tanning lotions. A spray tan will last anywhere from 5 – 10 days or possibly a little more, and it is 100% free of UVB rays and is FDA approved for use on humans.
Keeping out of the harmful sun, or protecting yourself while in it means that you can be outside for a longer period, without getting so burned, so get that sunscreen ready and go have some fun this summer.
If you are looking fortanning salons Reno NV vacation season, that the area is a bit higher in elevation than many other places, which will make you more likely to burn. Be sure to bring extra sunscreen with you on your trip, so you don’t get burned.
