There have been plenty of studies declaring the awful effects of tanning. But, many people still choose to tan in pursuit of a darker skin color. If you decide to tan, make sure to take precautions to limit your risk of skin cancer and aging.
Indoor Tanning Safety
Using tanning beds can increase your risk of skin cancer by 75 percent if you begin using the beds before you are 30 years old, says clubindustry.com, a website for fitness professionals.. If you still insist on using a tanning bed, then make sure to take every precaution.
First, consult the tanning technician at the salon. He or she will determine what your skin type is and tell you what bed you should go in and for how long. Start with a short time and gradually work your way up to avoid burning.
Second, make sure you have the proper equipment. Wearing tanning goggles reduces your risk of damaging your vision. Wearing indoor tanning lotion decreases your chances of burning and helps you to develop a better tan.
Third, limit how often you tan. You should never tan more than once in 24 hours and to be safer, try to wait two or three days between tanning sessions.
Outdoor Tanning
Never spend extended time in the sun without wearing sunscreen. Sunscreen blocks the sun's rays that burn and age your skin. At the very least, you should wear SPF 15. Wearing a lower SPF puts you at risk for skin cancer and other damage.
Limit your time in the sun. If you feel that you are burning, go inside immediately. If you have a sunburn, do not expose it to the sun.
Sunless Tanning
In the past, the phrase "sunless tanning" conjured up images of orange, streaky skin. Now there are sunless tanning options that look natural and are much safer than traditional tanning.
One way to get a sunless tan is using a spray tanning booth. These are found in most tanning salons. The machine sprays your entire body with an even coating of dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, a chemical that makes skin appear tan. This chemical is approved for cosmetic application by the Food and Drug Administration, but it is not approved to be used near your eyes or lips and cannot be inhaled. Make sure the salon has a way to cover your eyes and lips and to prevent you from ingesting the chemicals.
To avoid getting DHA near your eyes or ingesting it, you can get an airbrush tan. This is the same as a spray tanning booth, except that a technician will apply the chemical for you. This ensures that it is even and safe.
Self-tanning lotions can be purchased over the counter and you apply them yourself. This reduces the risk of inhalation of DHA.
All three of these options last for a few days.
