by 1 Cylivers
Ah, the glory of sporting a gorgeous tan! Don’t we just love the tanned look our skin can reflect after looking pale all year round? I do agree that a tan makes the skin look lovely. But, do we also know that a tan is actually the result of our skin being burnt up by the sun’s onslaught or by overexposure to the sun’s rays? And that, dear friends, is not just unhealthy; it is downright dangerous!
You do know that being burnt down by the sun can straightaway lead to skin cancer or melanoma, which is among the deadliest of maladies. And, you’d be wrong if you thought that skin cancer afflicts only older people specially those who are in their 50s and 60s. Therefore, it would be advisable to soak in the sun with a lot of caution, in spite of its appealing warmth and comfort.
Protect your skin in the sun with protective head gear, sun protection lotions, sun block creams and proper clothing, particularly between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are known to be the strongest. When out in the sun, wear cotton and not linen because cotton breathes and is better for your body.
As for colors, white is actually not recommended. In fact, the darker the color of your clothes, the more ultra violet rays they’ll be able to absorb and not allow them to penetrate to your skin. Most of the sun block cream need to be reapplied every two hours for them to be effective, though there are a few on the market which can withstand ultra violet longer.
Irrespective of all this, your skin will still get a little tanned which itself is no cause for alarm. But watch out for any sudden moles, freckles or sunspots and immediately contact a dermatologist. You must, without fail, frequently examine your skin for any outbreak on it, after you’ve been out in the sun too long. Enjoy the sun, by all means. But remember to take it in – in the right proportion.
Comments
- susanph, Jun 13, 2007 at 12:50 PM PDT said:
There are other creams and lotions that protect your skin from sun-damage - Anthelios, Photoderm, etc. However, I am not very familiar with your specific condition. Hence, I suggest that you consult your dermatologist.
- a123, Jun 12, 2007 at 05:55 AM PDT said:
Hi Suzanne, This is correct. Do you know any particular lotion or cream that would protect for maybe 7-8 hours? I have recently had a bit of sun exposure and moles have surfaced on my arms. The dermatologist suggested "VICHY Capital" cream, but unfortunately I am not able to get it in the middle east. Thanks
