Tan Responsibly Reminds You To … Tan Responsibly

Continuing with the theme of spring break, Tan Responsibly would like to remind you to, well, tan responsibly. Whether you are still working on your base tan in preparation for your trip or you are in full vacation mode and planning to hit the beach every day, always remember that your goal is to achieve a golden tan and avoid overexposure. Of course, overexposure, commonly known as sunburn, can happen to the most careful of tanners—and it can be extremely uncomfortable. In the event that it happens to you, there are a few things you should know.

Sunburn Happens

Although there are three different levels of burns, only first-degree and second-degree burns apply to tanners.

First-degree sunburns are the most common type, which only affects the outer layer of skin and causes mild pain and redness. The reddened skin might be sore to the touch, but it usually can be treated at home and will heal relatively quickly.

Second-degree sunburns on the other hand, are not only more painful, but take longer to heal. This is due to the fact that the burn has penetrated beyond the outer skin layer—sometimes even nerve endings have been damaged. The skin usually reddens, swells and blisters; however, second-degree sunburns usually still can be treated at home.

One basic treatment is to wet a washcloth with cool water, and gently apply it to any sunburned areas. If you’d rather cool your entire body down, you simply can take a cool (but not ice-cold) bath. Make sure you don’t use any bath salts or soaps, though, as they may irritate your skin.

Another good trick is to apply an aloe-based lotion or aloe vera gel. The plant extract soothes the skin, seals in moisture and speeds up the healing process. In addition, taking an anti-inflammatory medicine, such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen, can help reduce the redness and swelling of your skin.

Finally, make sure to avoid further UV exposure until the sunburn has fully healed.

Occasionally, overexposure can result in severe sunburn that requires medical attention. Here are some symptoms that will alert you as to when you should head to the hospital:

• High fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• Vision problems
• Severe blistering
• Fainting
• Confusion

Better Idea: Prevention

Of course, prevention is a much better method than treatment. A good way to prevent overexposure in a tanning bed is by understanding your skin type; that way you’ll know how quickly you tan and how long you should stay in the bed. If you aren’t sure, always ask the salon owner or an employee for their recommendation on how many minutes you should tan—do not just assume you’ll be able to “tell” when you’re nearing the point of overexposure during a tanning session.

The best way to prevent sunburn while tanning outdoors is to apply sunscreen about 30 minutes prior to going outside. Make sure to pick a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays and has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. A waterproof brand is ideal if you’re going to either be sweating or swimming, which is likely if you plan on tanning on the beach or by a pool. Remember to reapply the sunscreen throughout the day, especially if you are swimming. Check the sunscreen’s ingredients to confirm that you’re not allergic to any of them; if your skin does react badly to the one you’re using, try a sunscreen with different chemicals.

Another way to protect yourself from the sun is to avoid or limit exposure when the sun’s rays are the strongest (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Of course, this is not always possible, so a good trick to calculate the amount of UV exposure you’re getting is the shadow rule—if a shadow is longer than you are, then UV exposure is low; if a shadow is shorter than you are, then UV exposure is high. Also be sure to wear sunglasses with UV protection— UV rays can penetrate through your eyelids, so, just as you wear eye protection while tanning indoors, you should wear it while tanning outdoors.

The severity of the potential for overexposure depends on several different factors; maintaining awareness of those factors will ensure that you achieve a golden tan without suffering sunburn. And don’t forget that UV rays can also pass through clouds—the same rules of sunburn prevention apply even when it’s overcast outside. Similarly, keep in mind that it’s easier to get sunburned at higher altitudes because there is less of the Earth’s atmosphere to block the rays; in fact, UV exposure actually increases about four percent for every 1,000 feet you climb.

Happy Spring Break!