How To Sunbathe Safely and Avoid Sunburn?
A beautiful, brown tan is a dream of everyone, both women, and men. Not everyone, however, is aware of how harmful solar radiation can be and how to protect yourself from it.
Check how to avoid burns after tanning and how to treat them with home-made methods.
Sunbathing can have positive effects because the sun produces both endorphins, the hormone of happiness, which affects our well-being and vitamin D3, the deficiency of which leads to bone desquamation in adults and a tendency to infection.
However, dermatologists warn against too frequent sun exposure and inattentive tanning. Sun radiation very harmful to the skin.
We can divide solar radiation into three categories:
- UVA radiation – ultraviolet radiation, the so-called longwave solar radiation. It’s the most dangerous radiation. It handles the last stage of melanin synthesis in the skin, and thus the formation of an intense and long-lasting tan. It penetrates the deep layers of the skin, where it destroys collagen fibers and intensifies carcinogenic UVB rays. It weakens the immune mechanisms of the skin, resulting in the formation of melanoma – a malignant skin cancer. Glass doesn’t protect you from UVA radiation, and it’s dangerous throughout the year.
- UVB radiation – medium wave radiation. It affects shallower parts of the skin compared to UVA. Most of the rays are absorbed by the stratum corneum of the skin. With this radiation, first erythema appears on your skin (12 to 24 hours after tanning), then there is a constant pigmentation, i.e., a tan (48-72 hours after sunbathing). Thanks to UVB radiation, the skin produces a biologically active form of vitamin D3, and this radiation is responsible for skin burns.
- IR radiation (infrared) – infrared and thermal radiation. It results in overheating and even sunstroke. Large doses of IR radiation can cause dehydration of the body.
Frequent tanning – what are the consequences?
In the summer, you do not think about the consequences of tanning, which are serious and can be deadly.
The most common effects of too long and frequent sun exposure are
- Sunburn – blisters, burning, pain, or inflammation of the outer layer of the skin. There is redness, and after a while, you can feel the symptoms of influenza (a runny nose, fever, chills).
- Sunstroke – one of the most serious effects of staying in the sun for too long without proper protection. The main symptoms of sunstroke are heat flushes, weakness, nausea, vomiting. Without proper treatment, sunstroke can lead to irreversible damage to the brain and other internal organs.
- Melanoma – the most malignant of all skin cancers. Caused by too intense sun exposure and lack of skin protection against the UV rays. It ranks second (after breast cancer) among the highest incidence of women with cancer. It must be remembered that melanoma often only reveals itself during menopause, so always protect the skin from the sun.
How to sunbathe safely and avoid burns?
During tanning, nothing completely protects your skin against the sun, and even if you use sunscreen, you still have to be careful.
Remember about basic rules of using sunscreen:
- The sunscreen must soak into the skin to work properly, so you should use it for half an hour before you plan to go out into the sun.
- If your skin had contact with sand or even a towel, you need to reapply the sunscreen.
- It is also necessary to apply subsequent layers every hour or two.
- During tanning, you should apply sunscreen more often to sensitive areas, such as arms, ears, nose or skin under your knees,
- To stay safe, avoid the sun between 11AM and 3PM During that time the sun is the strongest It’s best to just stay in the shade.
- It is also dangerous to “lie in the sun.” You cannot accelerate the tanning process in any way. Many hours of lying down during the heat is the most common reason for skin irritation and stroke.
- If you are planning a bath or you want to swim, you must use waterproof cream with a filter.
- After leaving the water, dry your skin with a towel immediately. Many people prefer to dry in the sun, but it is dangerous. Water droplets attract the sun’s rays (they act on them like lenses), which can cause painful burns.
Also remember – when the sun shines, it is dangerous everywhere. Not only deliberate tanning can have painful effects. No matter where you are, you should apply sunscreen to your shoulders, cleavage, and legs.
You should also cover your body: wear hats, sunglasses, loose clothes in bright colors.
Also, remember to consult your doctor if you are taking any medication or painkillers during hot days. Tanning and sun overexposure together with some medication can kill you.
How to treat burns after tanning?
When sunbathing, even if you keep the safety precautions, skin burns can occur.
These simple ways will help relieve pain and irritation:
- Aloe Vera – aloe extract will not only soothe the pain but also keep your skin moisturized and beautiful
- Vinegar, kefir, skim milk – they prevent burning, reduce pain. These methods are known to our mothers and grandmothers, they are considered extremely effective.
- Chlorella – taking chlorella can help your skin regenerate faster
- Light, loose clothing – when the skin is irritated try to avoid wearing tight (mainly synthetic) clothes, because they cause unpleasant feeling. The burned skin should not touch anything.