Tanning taboos
To many, summer means hanging out at the pool or the beach, soaking up rays. Most Americans, including almost two thirds of teens, think they look better when they have a tan. Yet, the habits you have as a teen can affect both your health and your looks years from now. This is particularly true of sun exposure and tanning.
To make sure your skin is in top shape to protect you, you need to protect it, and that means playing it safe in the sun.
How tanning affects your skin
Long-term effects of the sun
Protecting yourself
Tan without the trauma
How tanning affects your skin
You may not think of your skin as much more than a wrapping for your body, but it is your largest organ and the main barrier between your body and the environment. It also contains cells that help your immune system fight off infections.
The sun's rays contain two types of ultraviolet radiation that reach your skin: UVA and UVB. UVB radiation burns the upper layers of skin (the epidermis), causing sunburns, while UVA radiation, which penetrates to the lower layers (the dermis), causes tanning. UVA rays are considered the culprit in the aging of skin, and UVB rays are more often linked to skin cancer. However, research suggests that UVA radiation may also play a role in skin cancer.
"A tan is visible proof that your skin is being damaged," states Robert Sollitto, MD, Virtua Health dermatologist. "When ultraviolet radiation hits your skin, it stimulates cells known as melanocytes, which make a pigment called melanin. The melanocytes respond to the sun by making even more melanin to protect your skin from the sun. The melanin acts like an umbrella for the skin's cells and can give people the brown tint that is a suntan. However, a tan only offers a sun protection factor (SPF) of about five, which is not strong enough to protect against damage to the skin."
Long-term effects of the sun
Melanin can only protect your skin so much. If you continue to be exposed to the sun, the UV radiation can eventually damage your skin. That damage shows up as:
* Wrinkles
* Brown age spots
* Blotchiness
* Leathery, sagging skin that looks older than it is
In the worst-case scenario, too much sun can cause skin cancer, lead to problems with your eyes or weaken your immune system, making it harder for you to fight off diseases.
"Skin cancer is epidemic in the United States," states Dr. Sollitto. "Melanoma, the most serious (and most frequently fatal) type of skin cancer, is one of the fastest-growing tumor types in the United States in terms of new identified cases."
Most skin cancers will be one of the two less-serious types (basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma) which have high cure rates, but even these can be very damaging and potentially deadly.
Protecting yourself
The best way to care for your skin is to find a balance between activity and protection. You can start now by following these tips from the American Academy of Dermatology.
- Wear sunscreen every day with a SPF of at least 15, even on cloudy days and when you don't plan to spend much time outdoors. Make sure the sunscreen blocks both UVA and UVB rays (referred to as "broad-spectrum" sunscreen).
- If you are going to be outside for a while, reapply sunscreen every two to three hours and after swimming or sweating. If you'll be in the direct sun, wear a sunscreen with a higher SPF, like SPF 30. If you'll be playing sports, make sure the sunscreen is waterproof and sweatproof.
- Try to avoid spending lots of time outside between 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun's rays are strongest.
- When you can, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants or skirts, and a hat with a brim.
- Wear sunglasses that provide almost 100% protection against ultraviolet radiation.
Be aware that certain medications, such as antibiotics used to treat acne, can increase your sensitivity to the sun. Ask your doctor to find out whether your medications might have this effect and what you should do.
Tan without the trauma
Even when you're serious about protecting your skin, you may sometimes want the glow of a tan. Luckily, there are many products on the market that let you tan safely and sun-free. What's best, these "sunless tanners" have greatly improved to provide you with a natural golden glow, not the orange streaks that your mother's sunless tanning lotion caused.
Sunless tanners contain an ingredient (DHA) that oxidizes on the outermost layers of your skin, giving you the look of a tan. You can apply sunless tanners just a few hours before a big event. Most sunless tans last several days. These self-tanners come in sprays and lotions and are a snap to use (follow the directions on the specific product box). They're cheap, too, usually around $10. Best of all, you get the warm glow of a tan while knowing you're keeping your skin beautiful for years to come.