Tanning has become a very popular aesthetic luxury for both men and women. People like the natural glow their skin gives when tan. Also, many people think they look better when tanned. Being tanned gives a sense of pride in yourself because you look more attractive. However, when you spend too much time in the natural sun - or in the tanning bed - you can get burned and sometimes burned severely. The following tips will help you tan without burning.
The first thing you must consider to avoid being burned by the natural sun is sunscreen. Sunscreen (it can also be called suntan lotion, sun block, etc.) has an SPF number on the bottle. SPF is an acronym for Sun Protection Factor. The higher the SPF number, the more protection the sunscreen will give. For example, a sunscreen with an SPF of 60 will give you more protection than one with an SPF of 30. You should apply sunscreen over the areas of your body that will be exposed to the sun. Sunscreen should be applied indoors before you go out into the sun. It can be reapplied every 2 to 4 hours after that. You might have to reapply more often if you go swimming.
Sunscreen will protect your skin from being burned. However, if you are out in the sun for long periods of time, you might still get sun burned. You can normally tell when you are starting to burn when your skin starts turning red and your skin becomes very hot to touch. If this occurs, you should get out of the sun immediately. If this is not an option, you should cover you skin with clothing. Also, wearing a hat will block the sun from your head and face. If it so happens that you do get sun burned, a cool bath or shower can relieve some pain. When you get out of the tub/shower, aloe-vera gel or lotion can be rubbed on the burned area. The aloe-vera will soothe and moisturize your skin. Hopefully, your burn will disappear overnight. If it doesn’t, continue to apply the aloe-vera to your skin until it does. If the burn gets worse, consult a physician.
If you visit a tanning salon, you still have a chance you can get burned. Many fair skinned people will experience burns the first few times they use a tanning bed. No one should ever use a tanning bed for more than twenty minutes at a time in any twenty-four hour period. If you have never used a tanning bed before, you should start out with very little time in the bed; perhaps five minutes. By starting off with such a short time, you will be able to see how your skin reacts to the time in the tanning bed. If you do not burn in five minutes, next time allow yourself eight or nine minutes in the tanning bed. Keep increasing the time until you are comfortable with the tan on your skin. If perchance you do get burned, do not return to the tanning facility until the burn is gone. You can use the aloe-vera lotion as explained previously to treat your burn.
Tanning gives your skin a natural healthy glow; however, it can leave your skin burned. You should now be well equipped to avoid that pain. Enjoy your time in the sun!
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Tanning
Source: www.isnare.com