Summer's coming and it's time to think about getting a golden glow. For most of us, that translates into preventing our skin from getting too much color. The melanin that gives us color is our skin's reaction to damage. Any change in the pigmentation of our skin is an indication that our body has swung into action to close ranks against an intruder. Summer activities such as a day at the lake, golf, tennis, or other outdoor passtimes will result in sun damage. 90% of the visible signs of aging are caused by environmental factors such as the sun. The name of the game is control.
To prevent getting sunburned or the deep dark color that signals over exposure, use a high SPF sunscreen and look for sunblock ingredients such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and parsol 1789. SPF refers to the protection you receive from the UVB (burning) rays of the sun, but you must have one of the three ingredients mentioned above for protection from the UVA (aging) rays. There is no recognized protection factor for UVA rays. Reapply often as sweat, swimming, friction from towel drying and clothing decrease protection and some ingredients actually break down in sunlight.
Wear a hat, cover up, find some shade and go inside after a couple of hours. Some studies show an increase in skin cancer among those who use sun protection. There is some debate over whether this is caused by people getting more exposure when the risk of sunburn is diminished or if it is a result of some suncreen ingredients. In either case, limit your exposure to the sun and shower off sunscreen once you come inside.
Self-tanners have become very popular, with almost every company manufacturing one or more varieties. If you want to try this option you might experiment with a couple to see what works best for you. A few tips to remember:
- Exfoliate first with a loofah or scrub, especially on knees and ankles. Build up of dead cells can show up as darker splotches.
- Massage in regular body lotion over knees and ankles to blend self-tanner.
- Try a tinted product so you can see where you've put it.
- Let it dry thoroughly before getting dressed to prevent streaks.
- Start our slowly--don't use the darkest formula if your skin is very pale.
- Wear latex gloves during application or wash hands thoroughly afterwards to prevent tan palms and cuticles.
Even easier is the spray or mist on self-tanners available at tanning parlors.
If you're afraid of self-tanners, makeup is a good alternative. If you're very fair, be careful not to go too dark. There are several good bronzers on the market, but you can also use a tinted moisturizer or a foundation a couple of shades darker than your normal shade. Look for something with a subtle golden gleam. You can also mix a little shimmer product with the foundation. Don't use it all over--concentrate on places that the sun would hit such as the edges of the face, above the brows, cheekbones, bridge of nose, chin, etc.
Keep other makeup light and shimmery for the most summery look.
Look for the new spray on makeups for the legs and body.
You SHOULD NOT go to tanning booths. These use strong UVA rays which penetrate deeply into the skin breaking down collagen and elastin which give your skin it's firmness. They damage the DNA of cells which can lead to skin cancer. Wrinkles, dry leathery skin, and the possibility of cancer are too high a price to pay to look tan! (And no, covering your face with a towel won't really help much!)
