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With all of the controversy surrounding everything these days, sun tanning included, it’s hard to sort through what to believe and what not to believe.
When it comes to questions about sun tanning, here’s my take:
11 Sun Tanning Questions
- Is sun tanning safe?
- Can you suntan while pregnant?
- How do you avoid tan lines?
- Can I avoid raccoon eyes?
- Does a sunburn turn into a tan?
- Will sun tanning give me freckles?
- Will sun tanning give me cancer?
- Are there any benefits to sun tanning?
- Can you sun tan while it is cloudy out?
- What are the best times of day to sun tan?
- Will sunscreen prevent me from tanning entirely?
- Is sun tanning safe?
- Not really, but it doesn’t stop anyone from doing it, and you only live once, right? UV rays can be dangerous but you can reduce your risk out in the sunshine by using appropriate protection. You will get a hefty dose of vitamin D, though, and a nice tan.
[Back to Top] - Can you suntan while pregnant?
- You can, but you should always ask your midwife or OB GYN about it, first as they might offer you additional tips, or think it may be unsafe for you. If you do suntan while pregnant, just be sure you do it in an area where you have a shaded area you can get to if you feel overheated, and you should keep plenty of water nearby.Overheating and dehydration are the biggest risks out in the sun, especially when pregnant, so taking a few extra, little measures to protect that baby are definitely in order.
[Back to Top] - How do you avoid tan lines?
- Tan lines are very hard to avoid unless you are tanning in the buff! If you must wear a bathing suit, wear one of minimally-required coverage. While you are tanning, periodically move the edges of your bathing suit to a different position; this can at least make the tanlines less defined.The parts to really focus on are the straps of the top since these are the tanlines that would be most obvious to anyone you interact with, unless, of course, you walk around pantless?
[Back to Top] - Can I avoid raccoon eyes?
- Yes. Wearing regular sunglasses will surely score you a set of raccoon eyes before the day is over, so ditch the sunglasses and wear a hat instead. You can also buy a pair of tanning booth goggles, which may look funny wearing them on a beach, but who cares? Just call it a fashion statement!
[Back to Top] - Does a sunburn turn into a tan?
- Yes, it can. This may be the most painful way of going about getting a tan but a sunburn will eventually cool down, and likely peal revealing a nice, new shade. Think of yourself as a butterfly emerging from a sunburned, peeling cocoon!In all seriousness though, sun burns can give you a tan, but it’s also the most dangerous way to get a tan. It has been found that getting even 5 sunburns in your life doubles your risk for melanoma. You shouldn’t let your skin get to the point of a sunburn because this is a sign that sun damage has occurred and can increase your chances of getting skin problems.
[Back to Top] - Will sun tanning give me freckles?
- It can. It depends on your skin type. Sun exposure can make freckles that were once invisible show up and it can make any freckles you have already known about appear more obvious as well. Just because a friend got freckles from the sun, it does not mean that you will, too. Everyone is unique!
[Back to Top] - Will sun tanning give me cancer?
- It can. Although it may not give you skin cancer, it definitely increases your chances. According to www.skincancer.org, 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers are due to exposure from UV rays from the sun. That’s a pretty high number, so when you make the choice to catch a suntan, use appropriate lotions to offer your skin some protection!
[Back to Top] - Are there any benefits to sun tanning?
- Yes, being out in the sun is a way for your body to make some sunshine vitamin, vitamin D! Although there are supplements you can take for this as well.Also, you get a sweet tan, that’s a benefit, right? Just tan smart and you’ll reap the benefits that you are after.
[Back to Top] - Can you sun tan while it is cloudy out?
- Yes! As a matter of fact, you should still wear sunblock outdoors when the sky is cloudy because just because you can’t see the sun, it doesn’t mean those UV rays can’t see you! You can actually get a tan just as fast on a cloudy day as you can on a sunny day, and some studies argue that the surface UV levels are higher on partly cloudy days, called the “broken cloud effect.”
[Back to Top] - What are the best times of day to sun tan?
- Any time between 10am and 4pm is typically a good time to tan as the UV rays are at their highest levels during the day. I’d say, the very strongest time to go tanning is between 11am and 2pm.
[Back to Top] - Will sunscreen prevent me from tanning entirely?
- No. Sunscreen will help prevent a sunburn, but you can still get a bit of a tan. It really depends on the SPF, length of sun exposure, how much sunscreen you apply, and how often you apply it. If you really, really tried, you could beat the odds and keep your fair skin, but you will find yourself applying the sunscreen once an hour and caking it on so thick that you look like a frosted cupcake!
[Back to Top]
So by now, you should know enough about sun tanning to be a pro, right? Right, so go get that dream tan, but protect yourself in the process!
