Author: Julia, Middle School student writer

Lately, it seems that everybody wants a tan. You may even be trying to get one yourself. You may think that tanning makes you look healthy. But if you are exposed to too much sun, you could get badly burned. And in the long run, it can lead to premature aging (wrinkles) and skin cancer.

• Tanning and Your Skin
• Safety
• Facts About Sunscreens -- and don't forget your eye protection!
• Facts About Sunburn

Tanning and Your Skin

• When ultraviolet (UV) rays hit your skin, your body creates melanin, a substance that is brown.
  
  
• Melanin gives you a tan. People with lighter skin produce less of it and are more likely to sunburn quickly.
  
  
• People with darker skin produce a lot of melanin naturally. This helps shield their skin from the sun, so they are less likely to burn. But dark-skinned people should still take precautions against too much sun exposure.There are different ways to achieve darker skin, including naturally, getting a mist tan, using creams or going to a tanning parlor.

Natural Tans

• A natural tan is one where tanning products are not used.
  
  
• To get a natural tan, you lie in the sun (wearing sunscreen, of course) and let the sun's rays give you a tan.

Tanning Beds

• A tanning bed exposes you to UV rays from an artificial source.
  
  
• Tanning beds can actually give off more UVA rays (the kind that lead to skin cancer and wrinkles) than the sun does. They are no safer than tanning in the sun itself.

Mist Tans

• A mist tan is one where you go to a salon and have a tan sprayed on you.
  
  
• The tan is made of a chemical that interacts with your skin to make it look darker.
  
  
• This method is expensive, but it is fast and safe.

Creams and Self-Tanners

• A self-tan is one where you apply a cream that makes you look tan.
  
  
• As with mist tans, these products contain a chemical that interacts with your skin to make it look darker.
  
  
• These tans can last up to a week.
  
  
• These come in lotions and sprays.
  
  
• Mostly, creams and self-tanners cost about $10.

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Safety

• The safest methods are using self-tanners, cream and getting a mist tan. These products do not actually expose you to UV rays.
  
  
• Don't forget to always use sunscreen, even when you are tanning naturally.

If you tan, remember to do it safely and to still wear sunscreen, because sunburns and the long-term effects of sun exposure are more serious than looking tan.
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Facts About Sunscreens -- and don't forget your eye protection!

You can protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun's rays by staying indoors, but most people like to be outdoors at least some of the time. To protect yourself from sun exposure, you should use sunscreen wear a hat and sunglasses, and cover as much of your skin with protective clothing as you can.

Sunscreen is an important part of your sun-protection routine. Sunscreens prevent some UV rays from reaching your skin. Sunscreens are labeled with an SPF (sun protection factor) number. In general, the higher the SPF number, the more protection the product provides against UV light.

It is important to note that sunscreens can lose their effectiveness if they are not applied thoroughly and completely, washed off by swimming or perspiration, or rubbed off by contact with clothing. Remember to reapply sunscreen periodically.

When at the beach or pool, cover exposed areas with tightly woven clothing and wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your head and face. If you're a parent, protect your children's skin; research indicates that one or more severe, blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence can double the risk of skin cancer later in life.

Remember that the sun's rays are the strongest from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, especially during the late spring and summer. Reflected glare from water and snow also can increase your exposure to UV radiation.

It is equally important to protect your eyes from the sun. Too much UV radiation can damage the cornea and lead to cataracts, a clouding of the lens of the eye that can cause blindness. Not all tinted glasses - even very dark ones - protect against UV radiation. The UV filtration results from an invisible chemical applied to the sunglasses. Check the label when choosing sunglasses in order to make sure that they provide protection against UV radiation.
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Facts About Sunburn

Sunburn should be avoided because it damages the skin. Although the discomfort is usually minor and healing often occurs in about a week, a more severe sunburn may require medical attention.

Recognizing Sunburn

Symptoms of sunburn are well known: the skin becomes red, painful, and abnormally warm after sun exposure.

What to Do

Consult a doctor if the sunburn affects an infant younger than 1 year of age or if these symptoms are present:

• Fever
  
• Fluid-filled blisters
  
• Severe pain

Also, remember these tips when treating sunburn:

• Avoid repeated sun exposure.
  
• Apply cold compresses or immerse the sunburned area in cool water.
  
• Apply moisturizing lotion to affected areas. Do not use salve, butter, or ointment.
  
• Do not break blisters.

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References

Hyde, Patrice. "The Tanning Taboo." Kids Health. Accessed June 2004.

Centers for Disease Control. Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety. Accessed September 2004

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Facts about Sunburn. Accessed February 2008.

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