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It sure seems like it took long enough this year, but it’s summertime finally for most of us. For many people, this means it’s time to get out and get as much sun as humanly possible.

While you are out in the sun, getting some rays, it’s really important to follow some simple tips to keep your skin healthy and safe, while at the same time, letting some sunlight give you the glow you wanted all winter.

What about SPF numbers?

While there is no such thing as “safe tanning beds“, there are some simple ways that you can try to lessen the harm you are doing to your skin as you get a tan in the hot sun, or in a tanning bed at your local salon.

Assuming that you may go somewhere by the water as the sun beats down on your body, you need to be sure to wear a good sunscreen. You can’t block 100% of UVB rays, but a good sunscreen with SPF 45 is intended to block 98% of the dreaded UVB rays that come from the sun.

On another note, something that you should be weary of is that if you will be swimming, your sunblock will wear off a lot faster than it would if you were not in the water. You should be reapplying your sunscreen each time you get out of the water, or every couple of hours minimum.

If you are not going to the beach, but will be going to the local tanning salon instead, it is a really good idea to use caution there as well.

Tanning salons:

Short amounts of exposure to tanning beds are more safe than direct sun light, but that is not to say that it is a safe practice by any means. If you decide to use a tanning bed, you will still need to use a good sunscreen because your skin will still be exposed to harmful UVB rays that can damage your skin and cause sunburn.

If you choose to tan in a salon and you have your own goggles, be sure to bring them with you and wear them, or wear the goggles that are provided to you by the salon owner. Goggles provide essential protection for your eyes while you are exposed to the UVB rays from the bed.

What are the alternatives?

If you really want to be safe and have a little bit of color, sunless tanning is the way to go. You can get that healthy glow from sunless tanning lotions, which will last around 3 days or more in some cases.

Another method is to try spray tanning from the salon, which gives you longer lasting results than a lotion will. This kind of sunless tanning can last up to 2 weeks or possibly a little longer, but it is completely sun-free and FDA approved for human use.

Keeping out of the harmful sun, or protecting yourself while in it means that you can stay out longer without a nasty sunburn, so pack the sunscreen and enjoy your summer.

via netwebmail.org