First rule: graduality. Then choose the correct times. Eat fruits and vegetables and drink a lot. Please don’t overdo it with bronzers and instead choose sunscreen creams.
It is one of the great pleasures of summer: sunbathing and tanning. It gives us a good mood, thanks to the stimulation of serotonin in the brain. Strengthen the bones. It is a vitamin D bath, which regulates, among other things, the metabolism of calcium. Enhance our outward appearance. It controls our appetite and helps us eat less while making the brain more active. Therefore, the sun should not be wasted. But be careful: don’t overdo it, and it’s time to be careful, simply by following our ten tips.
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How To Take The Sun In The Correct Way
We must have an ambiguous attitude toward the sun in two directions. On the one hand, to welcome it and seek it; on the other, avoid it. And it all depends on some factors that must be evaluated for the benefit of our health and safety: the sun’s rays, it is good to know, are responsible for 90 percent of the aging process of our skin.
Take the sun gradually. The first piece of advice, and also the basic one, in order not to waste all the benefits of the sun and not to take risks associated with poor protection from its effects, is contained in one word: graduality. We must not dive into the sun, as at a swim in the sea, but take it responsibly and correctly. That is one step at a time. Knowing that the skin needs 10 days to produce a lasting tan, the hours between 11 and 15 are the hours with the most substantial radiation.
The body protects itself. And fruits and vegetables help. Once the “one step at a time” rule is introduced, the body will be able to protect itself from the sun on its own to avoid sunburn and more severe problems. It has all the resources to do it. Instead, after graduality, the most critical protection factor is nutrition: no fatty foods during the hours of exposure to the sun. Give preference to fruit and vegetables, and drink lots of water.
A shirt and patience for aesthetics. Do not be too chasing after aesthetics, especially if you have delicate skin and are therefore more exposed to the risks deriving from the intensity of the sun’s rays. A cotton t-shirt with an anti-sun function is handy. Especially for the hottest hours. And in any case, in general, always being uncovered, exposed to the sun, is a mistake. As well as a risk.
Know your skin. To understand how and where the sun will take you, in terms of tan, and therefore to avoid the waste of unnecessary forcing, start from a scientific fact: the color and intensity of the tan depend on the skin and the amount of melanin it produces. . In summary: people with brown or black skin and hair have more melanin, they tan more and above all, they are more protected from UV rays; On the other hand, those with fair skin are more susceptible to sunburn, dark spots on the face and back of the hands.
What Happens When You Exaggerate With The Sun
The damage of excessive sun exposure affects the skin, favoring its deterioration with wrinkles and spots. But even in this case, continuing in the list of our 10 tips, everything becomes more accessible thanks to some natural remedies. It was inspired by the standard and consistently compelling category of common sense.
- The damage of too many UV rays: Here too, awareness and responsibility are two clear words in sustainable lifestyles. Science has established, for years now, that excessive exposure to UV rays promotes premature aging of the skin and increases wrinkles and skin blemishes. In technical terms, it is called “solar deterioration,” not to mention the increased cancer risk. Without alarmism, without obsessions, these are all things to know.
- Hats and more: Apart from the t-shirt in anti-sun function, hats and sunglasses are two other precious objects to protect yourself from the risks of the sun’s rays and, in general, from excessive exposure to what, during the summer, we rightly desire. Instead, have fun choosing hats and glasses that make you feel comfortable and perhaps more attractive.
- Avoid perfumes: If you expose yourself to the sun with makeup and fragrances and ignore protecting yourself, the possible consequences are these: spots on the skin or even allergic reactions. Why take the risk? If you plan on being in the sun, you can also make an effort to avoid perfumes and makeup and not waste your day waiting for the proper tan.
- How protection creams are used: Premise: using creams and sun protection products, in general, is helpful and sometimes not only necessary but essential. But even here: no exaggeration and no waste. Apply them effectively and in the proper doses, perhaps after a phone call (a visit is unnecessary) to your trusted dermatologist. In any case, know that sunscreens do not have an expiry date. One year after opening, they no longer guarantee the protection factor.
- How tanning products are used: The most frequent mistake, with a double waste for health, and the body, is the following: use tanning products instead of protective ones to acquire color more quickly. Nothing could be more wrong. In this way, not only do you not protect the skin but multiply the harmful effects of the sun. And you significantly increase the chances of a severe sunburn.
- Read the ingredients of the protection products carefully: Through what is shown in the package, it is not difficult to learn to read the contents of the products on the market to protect yourself from the sun. Recently the American FDA (the agency that also regulates the sale of these products) has indicated some active ingredients used to absorb UV rays in products with chemical filters. These discussions about sprays, creams, and sun milk are endless and concern the doses (2 milligrams per square centimeter of skin, four times a day: this is the manufacturers’ recommendation, and it is probably excessive). In general, it is good to carefully read the ingredients of photo protectors and choose physical filters such as titanium oxide or zinc dioxide. And instead of abusing compulsive products and purchases, perhaps always consult with your dermatologist.
How Long Can We Stay In The Sun?
There is no erga omnes rule, valid for everyone, to establish how many hours we can stay in the sun. The differences concern the age of people (children and the elderly certainly have to spend less time in the sun), the starting conditions of our body (if we have light or dark skin), the time in which we are exposed to the sun’s rays ( the hottest hours are also those in which we have to stay less). In general, however, we can try to sum up an average value: you can last between one and two hours a day in the summer sun. Not more. Know that if you have fair skin, spending more time exposed to the sun will not help you, but if anything, you will risk dermatitis or some skin problem. Instead, the good news for everyone with light skin or dark skin is that you can also tan under an umbrella in the warm months. Without particular countermeasures, except the advice to wear a t-shirt and not remain shirtless.
What Are The Best Hours To Take The Sun
Also, in this case, the age factor becomes decisive in deciding the best time to choose to stay in the sun. Children under the age of 4 must remain in the sun early in the morning, between 7 and 10, and no earlier than 5 pm. These are the times to choose even for older adults, who have to make enormous sacrifices in terms of sun exposure. There is only one essential recommendation for all the others: avoid exposure to the sun between 12 and 15. These are impossible times to get a tan.
How Long Does It Take For A Tan?
The color and characteristics of the skin count more than age to determine the time needed to tan. Those with a fair complexion will always tend, with the sun, to have a color the red; those with dark skin, on the other hand, can change color even on a single sunny day and go towards solid colors. An important tip: when the sun is intense and during the entire summer, do not overdo it with tanning creams to accelerate the change of color of your skin. It’s a waste: let nature take its course without forcing it. Instead, think about protecting yourself with some specific cream. And keep in mind that seawater, among other things, at no cost, has more or less the same result as a tanning cream.
The Sun That Tanks More
The sun that tans the most is undoubtedly that of the mountains, and the higher you go, the more the effects of solar radiation increase. Let’s see some numbers to understand better. The reflection of solar radiation is 80 percent in the mountains, especially on snow, and only 20 percent on the sand. Four times more potent in the first case. These differences between mountains and sea pose a problem for those who take holidays by choosing places at a certain height: they must pay particular attention to the sun and increase protection. On the other hand, theirs will be a slower and more complete tan.
Who Can’t Sunny
There are some categories for which exposure to the sun is not recommended, especially in the summer months. In the first place, some people are undergoing radiotherapy or chemotherapy. In the past, the protocols provided for the prohibition of exposure even 6-12 months after the treatments; luckily, this threshold has dropped to 2-3 months. Those treated for particular skin diseases or who have recently had specific skin interventions cannot be exposed to the sun. However, it is always good to talk to the doctor about this before making a final decision: and the same goes for pregnant women and those taking particular medicines, such as antibiotics. Even those with lupus, an autoimmune disease involving inflammation of the body’s tissues, must forgo sunbathing for a tan. Anyone can’t sunbathe to get a tan.
Also Read: Help With Sunburn: 8 SOS Tips For Sunburn
