Nothing is more refreshing than a beautiful, sunny day. It gives you an opportunity to bathe in the sun and achieve a natural tan. However, there is more to getting radiant skin than just spending some hours outdoors. You have to sunbathe at the right time to protect your skin from the sun.
There are risks associated with sunbathing at the wrong hours. This is why you should be mindful of the time of the day you expose your skin outdoors, even when you bask under the sun at the beach. You can prevent the sun from causing harm to your skin and naturally tan your skin when you tan at the right time.
Which Time Is the Best to Safely Tan Your Skin?
The best time to tan your skin is early in the morning between 8 am and 11 am or late in the afternoon, from 4 pm. The sun is weak during this period and sun exposure can give you the perfect base tan.
Avoid tanning your skin outside between 12 pm and 3 pm. During this period, sun rays are intense and can harm the skin.
A lot of people enjoy spending their leisure time outdoors. Many spend hours at the beach, especially during summer vacation. And if you love to tan your skin, sunbathing will give it the tint that will make it radiant. Unfortunately, exposing your skin when the intensity of the sun is high can result in sunburn and other harmful conditions.
If you are tanning, it is better to do it early in the morning than late in the afternoon. Aside from the mildness of the sun during this period, the body can easily repair any damage to the DNA. If you have sensitive light skin, you can safely tan early in the morning. You can also wear sunscreen to help protect your skin.
Afternoons are also good for tanning the skin. The sun rays are less intense at this time, allowing you to relax while you are sunbathing. However, avoid excessive sun exposure.
A regular 20- to 30-minute session can help your skin obtain the radiant bronze look you desire.
Risks of Tanning Outdoors
Regular exposure to the sun while tanning properly can create an even and natural suntan for your skin. Sunbathing can also improve your mood. However, the sun’s rays can damage your skin and the DNA in its cells. Though these rays are beneficial in the production of Vitamin D, they can lead to sunburns, wrinkles, and even skin cancer.
The UV rays travel faster to the earth’s surface during the peak hours of sunshine. For this reason, avoid sunbathing during the peak hours of the day. And if you must be outdoors, use a high sun protection factor sunblock. Limit tanning to protect the skin against damage from UV rays.
You may love the skin glow that results from tanning and enjoy sunbathing. However, there are risks linked to tanning the skin. They include:
- Dehydration – Excessive exposure to the sun causes water loss through sweating. You become dehydrated if you don’t drink enough water to replace the quantity you lost.
- Sun rash – Itchy rash that is in clusters can appear on the part of the skin exposed to the sun. The affected part of the skin becomes reddish.
- Sunburn – Overexposure to the sun leads to reddish, swollen, and painful skin.
- Eye damage – The sun rays can also harm your eyes. Wear sunglasses to keep your eyes safe from UV rays while tanning your skin.
- Premature skin aging – The penetration of the UV rays damages the elastic fiber that keeps the skin firm. The skin sags, resulting in the appearance of premature wrinkles. Sunbathing only during tanning can help prevent this problem.
- Immune system suppression – Exposure to UV rays can also lower your body’s immune system. It can make you vulnerable to diseases.
- Skin cancer – Skin cancer develops when the Ultraviolet A rays damage the DNA in the skin cells. This condition results from excessive sun exposure.
How to Safely Tan Outdoors
You can prevent damage to your skin if you tan at the right time. By taking certain precautions, you can tan your skin the right way.
Tan at the Right Time
Tan your skin when the sunshine is relatively mild. It is better to tan late in the afternoon, preferably after 4 pm, if you have fair or sensitive skin. The same period is also ideal if you are new to tanning.
For an even tan, change position during the tanning session. Spend an equal amount of time, say 20 to 30 minutes, on both your back and stomach.
Remove Dead Skin Cells
Exfoliate with a scrub before tanning your skin. Scrub lightly to prevent making your skin more sensitive. Getting rid of dead skin cells unclogs oil from your pores, removes dirt, and gives you an even skin tone. Exfoliation exposes a fresh skin layer, allowing it to get tanned easily. Besides, it makes the tan last longer.
Maintain a Schedule
Stick to a tanning routine to build the base tan you desire. Daily tanning sessions at a specified time and duration will help you achieve this goal. Maintaining a schedule will help prevent excessive sun exposure. Also, you can protect your skin when you spend some time under the sun.
Read also: Can you tan on a cloudy day?
Use Sunscreen
Protect your skin from damage with sunscreen. It is ideal to use a mineral-based sunscreen with a minimal SPF of 30. Apply it at least 15 minutes before sun exposure. Reapplying the product after about 15 to 30 minutes into the tanning session will help make it more effective.
Use suntan lotion with SPF between 8 to 10. It will help protect your skin against cancer and will support a longer-lasting tan.
Consume Lycopene-Rich Foods
Lycopene naturally protects your skin against sunburn. Grapefruits, watermelon, tomatoes, carrots, and papaya contain lycopene and will help make your skin healthy while you are tanning. In addition to eating these fruits, you still should use sunscreen.
Avoid Dehydration
Sun exposure causes you to lose water through sweating. Drink more water than usual to stay hydrated. Avoid alcohol consumption as it promotes dehydration. Remember to tan at the recommended hours because you will lose less water when the sun is weak.
Protect Your Scalp and Face
Cover the delicate facial skin to protect it against UV rays. A wide-brimmed hat can shield your scalp, forehead, eyes, and nose. Also, use sunglasses to cover your eyes. The rays can cause eye diseases such as cataracts.
You wouldn’t want your skin to get damaged while you are sunbathing. Once your tanning session is over, stay under a shade. You can bring a beach umbrella along when you sunbathe. You can safely tan if you don’t prolong your stay under the sun. Also, try not to fall asleep during the tanning session.
Final Thoughts
You can safely tan when the sun is mild. However, this situation doesn’t apply to the peak hours of a sunny and cloudy day. The clouds may only block a small percentage of the UV rays. On such days, remember to take the necessary precautions to avoid sunburns. The best time to tan is early in the morning when the sun is not too hot.
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