Beauty no-gos when tanning in the summer sun

A sexy summer tan looks seductive and makes the skin glow. Even so, we should follow a few rules when sunbathing in order to enjoy a “healthy colour” for a long time.

 

Sun worshippers take note: anyone who wants skin that looks kissed by the sun should be careful not to make one of the following mistakes. Enjoy the sunny days, but pay attention to your individual skin type, the right protection and good care. What should you bear in mind when tanning?

 

The beauty no-gos when tanning

 

Wanting to go brown too quickly

Yes, many of us know this: the first hot days and our legs are still chalk-white from the long winter months. Naturally it should now happen quickly, because a summer tan simply looks good. Darker skin types are usually lucky enough to tan more quickly. Fair skin types, by contrast, tan more slowly and often not as deeply. We also tend to advise against a visit to the solarium. The tan offers no protection and the UVA rays used accelerate skin ageing.

 

Neglecting sun protection

Tanning takes a little longer with sun protection, but it is healthier, the skin ages more slowly and skin cancer is prevented. At the beginning you should use an SPF of 50 (UVA & UVB protection); later it can be reduced somewhat. Do not forget to reapply: swimming, turning over on the towel and other friction reduce the protection, so a new layer of sun cream should be applied again and again, ideally every 2-3 hours.

 

Having unrealistic goals

As already mentioned above, the depth and the speed depend on our genetics and therefore cannot be influenced. So do not try to spend longer in the sun than your skin can tolerate. Sunburn is not only painful but also dangerous. Yes, we know it is unfair, but: anyone who is naturally fairer will tan rather slowly. Be patient, your skin will thank you for it!

 

Underestimating the sun

The sky is overcast, you are lying in the shade anyway, or it is already evening. Please do not go without protection even so: even in the shade about 65% of the sun rays still reach you. In windy conditions too we readily underestimate the power of the sun. Better to apply a little more cream than to risk sunburn. A tan that is built up slowly also lasts longer and is healthier.

 

Giving the skin no break

Off to the swimming pool at 9 o’clock and not back until the evening? Give your skin a bit of a break; around midday it is better to avoid the sun. Take some time out in a café. Reapply cream more often and move into the shade from time to time. With sunburn you should not go into the sun at all, so take a rest day at home when your skin feels red or stressed.

 

Forgetting after-sun care

The sun dries out our skin. After extensive sunbathing, good after-sun care is called for: cooling gel creams with aloe vera are ideal for providing the skin with moisture.

There are also a few good tips for keeping the tan for a long time. Here too, though, the darker skin types are ahead. Their tan usually lasts longer. Good care preserves the summer tan. Light peels are allowed; strong peels regenerate the layers of skin and should therefore rather be left out.

 

Stay healthy!