Summer and sun tanning are inseparable. Many people go to the beach more to sunbathe than to swim. Sometimes, when I'm at sea, I see people who can lie in the sun for hours to get that chocolate skin tone that so many people want.
"Is it good or not to sunbathe?" I often hear this question from my patients. But more often I hear: “I wanted to get a beautiful tan, but I got a bad sunburn. What to do?'
Let's throw light on the first question.
As a doctor, I can't say that I'm against tanning. It is a natural factor that is used in the treatment of many skin diseases. But at the same time, I insist on sunbathing properly.
The sun is the source of life on earth. There is no doubt that a small amount of sunlight is beneficial. Here I can mention some of the benefits of the sun for the skin:
- Every person needs 15 minutes of daily UV exposure to get enough vitamin D for the skin. I think you already know why vitamin D is so important to your body, right?
- The sun enhances the production of certain sex hormones. In sunlight, the “hormone of joy” is actively produced – serotonin, which is responsible for a good mood.
- Sun tanning helps to strengthen the immune system. Under the influence of ultraviolet rays, the content of antibodies in the blood increases significantly, which increases the resistance of our body to infectious and viral diseases.
- Ultraviolet rays help fight colds.
- As I mentioned above, UV rays are successfully used in the treatment of various skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Thus, sun tanning is beneficial for people with oily skin prone to acne.
- Sun tanning boosts mental and physical performance and helps fight depression.
- In general, sun tanning activates many processes in the body: respiration, metabolism, blood circulation and the activity of the endocrine system.
There are indeed many benefits, but don't think that they are so easy to enjoy. It all depends on how you tan. In order for the benefit not to turn into damage (as in the case of my patients who asked me about sunburns), several rules must be observed. I know you don't really like rules, but your health depends on them, so let's see what they are!
How to sunbathe properly?
- Sunbathe in the morning before 10 am and in the evening after 6 pm.
- You need to sunbathe gradually, increasing your exposure to the sun by 10-20 minutes every day. However, remember that the duration of sun tanning should not exceed 2 hours a day.
- You need to sunbathe lying down with your feet towards the sun.
- Do not sunbathe on an empty stomach or immediately after eating.
- When out in the sun, be sure to wear a hat and sunglasses.
- It is not recommended to cleanse the body with soap, wipe with lotion, toilet water before sunbathing, as the skin becomes more sensitive to ultraviolet rays.
- In the sun, the body quickly loses moisture, so you need to drink water regularly and a lot.
- When sunbathing, pay close attention to moles. Moles should not be exposed to prolonged sun exposure. Particularly large formations are recommended to be covered.
- You can burn if you do not wipe yourself with a towel immediately after leaving the water, but dry yourself in the sun, since water drops on the skin act like small lenses.
- Be sure to use special creams before and after sunburn.
- Drinking alcohol is contraindicated under the hot sun.
Do you follow these rules while sun tanning? Most likely, the patients who asked me what to do in case of a sunburn did not follow them. Usually sunburns are treated more or less easily, depending on their severity. But sometimes the consequences of improper sun exposure can be much more serious, and all the benefits that we have talked about so much can turn into irreparable damage.
Excess sun leads to a weakening of the immune system, since all its forces are aimed at protecting the body from dangerous rays.
Sun tanning itself is not harmful, but it usually goes through the sunburn stage, and sunburns are certainly very harmful. To date, the link between sunburn and cancer has been proven. Sunburns received in childhood increase the risk of developing melanoma, one of the most malignant tumors. Burns suffered in adulthood increase the risk of developing skin cancer. In addition, sunburn tends to accumulate – all sunburns remain in the DNA of cells.
Summer is beautiful, sunny days, sea, holidays… but be careful with the sun. It can be your friend, but also your enemy. Prolonged exposure to the sun is no joke. It could cost you your life. Chocolate tan is really beautiful, but life is so much more beautiful!
I know I didn't give an answer to patients who asked me what to do in case of a sunburn.