Sun Tanning Outdoors

Outdoor tanning is riskier than tanning indoors, but for many it's hard to resist staying in on a gorgeous summer day. The lure of the golf course, beach, or hiking trials on such beautiful days is undeniable. So what's the best way to enjoy the benefits of tanning yet protect ourselves and TanSmart?

UV light from the sun varies in intensity and it's difficult to judge how much exposure is safe. Many factors affect the intensity of ultraviolet light, including: seasons, location, geography, weather, altitude, and changes in the ozone layer. With indoor tanning all of these factors are controlled. Nevertheless many of us are going to get out and enjoy the sun, and if we practice tanning smart then the risks can be managed.

Four tanning tips everyone should practice when tanning outdoors include: avoiding sunburn and protecting your skin, protecting your eyes, knowing your limits, and checking your medications.

• Avoiding sunburn is the best sunburn remedy and the cardinal rule of practicing tanning smart. Many people incorrectly believe that a sunburn eventually fades into a tan – this is not so. A sunburn is in fact an injury on top of your tanned skin. There are commercial sunburn treatments available but they're mainly for sun burn relief. I find the best sunburn home remedy is a cold bath. This relieves the pain as your body's natural healing power works to heal the sunburn.

  When tanning outdoors the best tanning lotions are those suntan products containing high SPF sunscreen or sunblock – mandatory beach gear.

• Protecting your eyes and wearing appropriate tanning eye wear that blocks both UVA and UVB light is critical. Overtime prolonged UV light exposure can damage the eyes, leading to cataracts, retinal burns, and even night blindness. Your eyelids are not thick enough to block the UVA ray or UVB ray from entering your eye so keeping your eyes closed won't help. Many sunbathers will use tanning bed eye protection, this eyewear stops 99 percent of UVA and 99.9 percent of UVB light.

• Know your tanning skin type and know your limits. There are six different skin types and each react differently to UV exposure. Knowing your limit and knowing when you've had enough is important. Get out of the sun well before you reach your limit. If you are exhibiting any sunburn symptoms you've already been in the sun to long. Remember the cardinal rule: “DON'T EVER SUNBURN.”

• Some medications can cause reactions to UV light making skin more susceptible to burning. Consulting your doctor before sunbathing is always a good idea.

Enjoying a sunny summer day on the golf course, at the beach, or hiking up in the hills is a great way to relax and let the stress fade away. It's important though that we practice tanning smart and protect our skin from the potentially harmful UV light with quality SPF sunscreen or sunblock lotions.

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