Almost nothing feels better than relaxing out in the warm rays of the sun. There’s a peculiar feeling to soaking up the rays, a warmth that really can’t be emulated by anything else; at the end of a session of suntanning, you might walk away with a radiant glow, inside and out. The psychological benefits of looking and feeling great are obvious, so it’s always tempting to get in as many hours of sunbathing as time will allow; the sun is even your best source of vitamin D, so sunbathing is, in a way, nutritious! That said, it’s not all upside.
The UV rays from the sun can cause a lot of problems for your skin. They wear away the elasticity of your skin, causing it to sag and wrinkle. The sun can also cause freckles and discoloration. All of this combined means that while you might look incredible with a tan, if you’re not cautious about how you tan you can end up with some unpleasant side effects. That’s all just on the aesthetic side, though; the most pernicious effect of the sun on your skin is skin cancer. That disease is really common, especially in fair skinned people; more skin cancer diagnoses are made each year than all other cancers combined!
That’s why any dermatologist worth their salt will recommend you apply sunscreen liberally and generously, especially when you’re going out to sun tan; they’ll also advise you keep the tanning to a minimum; you won’t need too many rays to get that radiant glow! There’s a wide variety of different types of sunscreen; generally speaking, you’ll want one with broad-spectrum protection, which will block UVA and UVB ultraviolet radiation. When you’re going swimming, you’ll want water resistant sunscreen; remember that resistant doesn’t mean “waterproof”, so you’ll have to reapply on the regular. When looking at sunscreen, you want to opt for at least SPF 30 in most cases.
You might be inclined to find shade when it’s really sunny out, but shade doesn’t mean you’re free from the sun’s rays! UV radiation bounces off of sand and other surfaces, so you’re still exposed; make sure that sunscreen stays on! In the same vein, wearing a hat doesn’t mean you get off scot free. Clothing, on the other hand, can provide excellent UV protection; some manufacturers actually make UV resistant clothing with an SPF of 50 or more.
While we advise that you take as much care to keep your skin protected from the sun as possible, we also understand it’s not always feasible to keep your skin sun-free. In fact, it’s almost certain that over time, the sun will wear away at the youthful qualities of your skin; it’s such an ever-present element in our lives it’s impossible to avoid some effects. Fortunately, we have a Beverly Hills botox procedure available that will help get rid of sagging and wrinkles in the face, without need for complicated cosmetic surgery. The sun might get you down after a while, but we’re here to perk you right back up!
