It used to be that the presence of a tan on a lady signified she was not so ladylike. My how the tables have turned! A tan later become a sign of a healthy, youthful look. Young girls baked their bodies for hours on end, hoping to get a movie star tan. Young girls continue to bake in the sun, but they now have information, warning them of the hazards sun damage.
It is unfortunate that so many young women and men as well turn a deaf ear when it comes to the dangers of tanning, instead opting for the short-lived bronzing and the long terms dangers of the sun's radiation.
The proof is out there and it's irrefutable—long term sun exposure is hazardous to your health. However, let's not focus on the obvious and the most dangerous part of a so-called glowing, healthy tan—cancer. It is real and it is deadly. If you're unaware of that fact, then you must be living in a cave, which might be a good place since there is very little sun exposure.
Let's focus on the vanity side of the issue. Exposing skin to the sun wrinkles it long before its time. If you're not sure of this fact, then take a look at an area of your body that receives very little sun exposure-the butt. No age spots or wrinkles there! The irony in all of this is protecting yourself from the sun is the cheapest easiest way to protect skin. But once the sun damage is done, it could take hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars to repair it.
Fine lines, wrinkles, dry, rough skin, precancerous lesions, and larger pores are all the result of overexposure to the sun. As we age, our skin ages, but overexposure to the sun hastens skin aging. A tan may look good temporarily, and to some, may look healthy, but it is far from that. Tanning is the body's response to the damaging effects of sun exposure. Tanned skin is the body's way of protecting it from exposure.
Tanning beds are also damaging. It's the same principle as sun exposure, but it can sometimes be even more problematic because the radiation is in a more concentrated form and it is much more direct.
Doctors have been somewhat successful in changing the mindset that tanning is healthy. But what seems to be much more difficult to change is the idea that a tan looks beautiful and sexy. Maybe it does, but only briefly. Premature aging is not only unhealthy, but it is unattractive on anyone. You even have to be careful with tanning accelerators.
Take the necessary precautions to protect your skin. Stay out of the sun, especially during the hours between 10am and 2pm. If you're outside, use a sunscreen with a high SPF, apply liberally, and often. Use protective clothing and hats. Talk to your dermatologist about protecting your skin. By applying a few simple tips to your skin care routine, you could save yourself premature aging and from the frightening reality of skin cancer.
Another entire area of concern has to do with the effect of the sun on the eyes. Finding the best protection sunglasses is a very important start.
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