Becoming Gold

Written by: Nandi Patel

Summertime! You run out into the water on a hot day; you are happy to spend the day tanning under the sun. Getting a golden tint on your skin is one of the goals you hope to complete over the summer. You soak in the Vitamin D as you carefully apply SPF 60 sunscreen. Reading your bottle of sunscreen, you decide to wait 80 minutes before reapplying another layer. Little do you know, sunscreen fails to block 100% of the sun's harmful rays. It is important to use other ways of protection: staying in the shade, avoiding peak hours (10 am-4 pm), and wearing sun-protective gear. Researching and taking a further look into the damage incurred to your skin this summer can be greatly appreciated 60 years down the road as you discover new skin issues that arise. Beauty trends spread throughout social media promote attaining a golden tan. Unknown to many, tanning is more harmful than beneficial due to the cell distortion it creates.

However, this practice might do more harm than the bragging rights you get from your tan. Tanning damages your skin cells and speeds up visible signs of aging. Not only does it cause visible changes, but it may also cause skin cancer. Simple as it seems, staying in the shade is one of the best ways to reduce damage, but reasonably, go by the "Slip! Slop! Slap! and Wrap!" rule. This rule means to slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses. Every part of your body needs to be protected thoroughly. This rule will ensure minimal damage while allowing you to go outside and have fun!

Additionally, consider using alternate bronzing methods such as sunless tanning lotions or at home. These quick solutions are often less damaging than other forms of goldening and can often be more convenient too. When seeking tanning methods, be wary of UV lamp tanning salons. They present their own issues, such as penetrating through all layers of your skin. Again, these lotions only coat the top layer of the skin, acting as a dye instead. According to a study, some skin types may be more affected by the sun's rays than others: red-headed and paler people are more prone to sunburn and damage. Similarly, UV rays are known to be the most harmful between 10 am and 4 pm, so make sure to avoid basking them. Before goldening, remember to check your UV index and sunscreen UVF to determine your safety.

Applying sunscreen may convince you to stay a little longer in the sun, but the truth is that it doesn't block all of the sun’s harmful rays. You should practice other sun-protection habits. Be careful about your presence in the sun because what may feel painless right now will have irreversible consequences soon. If possible, seek alternatives to traditional tanning such as oils or lotions because they are only topical and do not deeply penetrate and harm. All in all, enjoy your time in the sun safely.

Sources:

Image: Conde Nast Traveler

Commissioner, Office of the. “Indoor Tanning: The Risks of Ultraviolet Rays.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/indoor-tanning-risks-ultraviolet-rays.

“Tanning.” The Skin Cancer Foundation, 28 Jan. 2022, https://www.skincancer.org/risk-factors/tanning/#:~:text=Indoor%20Tanning%20Dangers&text=Tanning%20damages%20your%20skin%20cells,squamous%20cell%20carcinoma%20and%20melanoma.

“How Do I Protect Myself from Ultraviolet (UV) Rays?” American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org/healthy/be-safe-in-sun/uv-protection.html#:~:text=Sunscreen%20is%20a%20product%20that,UV%20rays%20still%20get%20through. Accessed 8 June 2022.

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