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Summer is the Time to Sunbathe! Sunbathe Safely!

What is tanning?

Tanning is a protective reaction of the skin, a darkening of the skin color under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, as a result of which the pigment melanin is deposited in the lower layers of the skin epidermis. A tan develops gradually after repeated low-intensity irradiations. The most intense and persistent tan occurs after prolonged exposure to the sun, which often has a harmful effect on health.

Is tanning harmful?

Tanning itself is the skin’s reaction to ultraviolet radiation, which begins with inflammation. Before it darkens, the skin turns pink or red. In case of a higher degree of inflammation, a sunburn appears, and with it blisters and age spots.

Under the influence of sunlight, photodermatosis (solar dermatitis) can develop. Solar dermatoses can be acute and chronic. Acute dermatitis manifests itself 2-4 hours after sunburn in the form of redness and inflammation of the skin. More severe inflammation appears in 10 – 12 hours and lasts 4 – 5 days – this is a first-degree burn. Its symptoms are redness and inflammation of the skin, fever, itching, pain in the area of redness, general weakness, headache, insomnia, loss of appetite.

Tanning is necessary for the formation of vitamin D. Only when sunbathing does a person produce the most important vitamin D, a lack of which can lead to serious health problems. For example, brittle bones, sleep disorders, and depression. At the same time, vitamin D can be obtained by eating fish, algae, fish oil, cheese, and butter.

Sunbathing can lead to I-III degree burns. In this case, the general condition of the body deteriorates, and severe burns can even lead to skin death. Sunburns received in adulthood increase the risk of developing skin cancer. It turns out that tanning itself is safe, but it usually goes through the stage of sunburn, and burns are undoubtedly very harmful. If a sunburn is manifested only by redness of the skin, you can treat the damaged area with thermal water, followed by the application of panthenol-based products. If blisters form after the burn, you should seek the help of a dermatologist in a medical institution.

After a burn, you should drink plenty of fluids – overheating could cause dehydration. You should also consume foods rich in folic acid and carotenoids: broccoli, spinach, liver, carrots, peppers, currants. It is their nutrients that will help you recover from a burn.

Who is not allowed to sunbathe?

Elderly people, young children, hypertensive patients, allergy sufferers, pregnant women, those suffering from neoplasms, melanoma, and diseases of the endocrine system should not sunbathe at all. Also at risk are people with fair skin, a large number of moles on the body or four or more moles with a diameter of 6 mm or more; those who burned in the sun several times in childhood; people in whose families one of their direct relatives was diagnosed with melanoma.

What is the right way to sunbathe?

It is best to sunbathe from 8:00 to 11:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00. This is a safe time to gradually tan without burning. The greatest chance of burning is in the afternoon, when the sun’s rays are particularly strong. Therefore, if you are on the beach at this time, it will be safer to stay in the shade or under an umbrella.

Use a sunscreen with SPF30 and UVA and UVB filters. Don’t rely on sunscreen alone. It reduces the proportion of rays that reach the skin, but not completely. The longer you are under the sun, the greater the damage. So wear closed clothing, hats and glasses.

Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Do not sleep while tanning and do not read. When you are sunbathing, change your body position every 10 to 15 minutes and do not do it for more than 1 hour. If your skin turns red after sunbathing, lubricate it with a special cream or sour cream. As soon as the redness disappears, you can go back to tanning.

Also, children under the age of 3 should be protected from direct sunlight. Even if the child is in the shade, sunscreen should be applied every 2 hours to the baby’s skin. Water acts as a lens – it amplifies sunlight. Moreover, solar radiation passes into the water to a depth of one meter. It is especially easy to burn if you stay in the sun immediately after swimming. Then the water forms small lenses on the skin, which increase the possibility of sunburn.

Remember, everything should be in moderation. A reasonable amount of sunlight is beneficial for the body, so do not exceed the permissible time in the sun to avoid undesirable consequences.

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Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

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