Tanning Methods

Sun rays emanate two kinds of ultraviolet radiations - UVA and UVB. While the UVB burns the upper layer of the skin and cause sunburns, the UVA tans penetrating the lower layers of the epidermis, wherein lie the melanocytes, which produce melanin. Melanin is human body's defence against harmful sun rays.

Since tanning has come in vogue big time, a number of tanning products for both sunless and under-the-sun tanning. Both kinds of products work on the epidermis and not on the dermis. However, the effect on of sunless and under-the-sun tanning on the epidermis differ. While the sun tanning products like sun tanning lotions, gels, sprays etc. work on stratum basale, (the deepest layer), sunless tanning products focus on stratum corneum (the outermost layer).

Sun Tanning

For outdoor tanning all one has to do is apply a good sunscreen or sun block cream and go out in sun. However, too much of sun can be harmful so care has to be taken. Check the SPF of your sunscreen lotion. The greater the SPF, the better the defence against harm.

No-Sun tanning or Self-Tanning
This is the kind of tanning wherein your don't go out in sun but stay indoors and still get the enviable bronze. Most of the self-tanning lotions have no UV protection, so use it after the sunset, before you go to bed, and if you go for it earlier in the day, allow at least two hours. Make sure that it does not leave stains on clothes before you put your regular clothes on, especially when your lotion has a coloring agent or if it's a spray that you use. Even if you apply it before going to bed, testing it for staining is better still, for you surely don't want to stain your bedsheet. Right?

Beware, however, that if UVA rays can, they can harm as well because they go deeper under the skin than the UVB rays. They are perfectly capable of going all the way to the dermis from epidermis, and damage one's immune system. It may cause melanoma, which is the deadliest kind of skin cancer.

Undetected and untreated, Melanoma can rapidly spread from the skin to other body parts and organs cause irreversible damage resulting in death. Skin cancer has assumed epidemic proportion in the United States with more than a million new cases diagnosed every year. In terms of the numbers of new cases, the number of patients suffering from other kinds of cancer are dipping or are leveling off, but melanoma cases are on the rise.

Earlier, people in their fifties or older were mostly the victim, but now there are large number of melanoma patients who are in their twenties and even in their late teens. Many of the experts hold the use of tanning beds and sun lamps responsible for it.

Even UVB rays are found to be partly responsible for melanoma because according to the medical experts an intense exposure to the sun can increase one's susceptibility to the disease. UVB rays may cause two other kinds of skin cancer - squamous and basal cell carcinoma. Besides cancer, there are many other problems that may be caused by intensive exposure to sun rays. The UVA is a major cause for premature skin aging. UV rays can also cause cataracts.

Since it is impractical to stay indoors all the time, the answer, naturally, is take good care of your skin when you have to go out or play outdoor games. Be it swimming or beach volleyball, apply a good sunblock or sunscreen cream or lotion to defend your skin from sun rays. The SPF number on the pack indicates the level of protection it can provide. Therefore, a higher SPF number means greater protection.

Effective UV Protection Checklist
For effective protection, get a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more and apply it everyday before going out in sun even if the day is cloudy and you don't plan to spend much time outdoors. It is advisable to use a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays so that the protection is against both of them. Apply it frequently and in sufficient quantity and if you are unsure about how much of it to apply, switch over a higher SPF product so that you don't have to worry much about it. No matter what the SPF, apply it every few hours.

Another important thing is that the fact that you are not getting sun-burnt doesn't mean there is no damage being done, for sunscreens are more effective against the UVB rays. So, you might not get a sun burn, but the UVA rays may still be causing internal damage. So, apply it frequently. If you are swimming or playing a game that makes you sweat, use a waterproof sunscreen of a higher SPF to provide better protection.

Therefore, tanned skin might look good, but be careful and take precautions so that you don't pay dearly for it.