Everyone would love for their skin to have a gorgeous bronze glow to look and feel their best, especially during the summer. Unfortunately, many people seek out achieving a perfect summer tan by laying in the sun for extended amounts of time. While sun tanning can help alter the color of your skin, unprotected sun exposure doesn’t come without a price. Here’s what you should know about how prolonged sun exposure could negatively impact your appearance and health.
The Harmful Effects of Prolonged Sun Exposure
While laying out by the pool or getting a tan at the beach may be at the top of your bucket list this summer, it’s important to be aware of the risks that come with prolonged sun exposure. While we can thank the sun for providing us with vitamin D that helps our bodies absorb calcium and can even improve certain skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, when used appropriately and in moderation, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can also lead to short-term and long-term health effects, including:
Premature Aging
No one wants to look older than they are, but many people unknowingly cause their skin to age prematurely by intentionally laying in the sun. While you may love the golden glow that tanning in the sun can bring, this short-term benefit could be working against maintaining a youthful appearance in the long run. In as little as 15 minutes, unprotected sun exposure can burn your skin, which can contribute to age spots, dryness, and wrinkles over time. To give your skin the best chance of staying as young-looking as possible, you should always wear sunscreen when exposed to the sun.
Eye Injuries
Did you know that sun exposure can be as harmful to your eyes as it is to your skin? It’s true. UV rays can burn your corneas, or the outer layers of your eye. This can cause blurred vision and ultimately lead to cataracts and even blindness. For this reason, wearing eye protection, such as polarized sunglasses, when you’re outside on sunny days is always a good idea. After all, getting a tan at the beach isn’t worth losing your vision!
Lowered Immune System
Getting a sunburn from tanning too long outside may seem like no big deal, but it can come with serious consequences. Since white blood cells work to fight off foreign invaders in your body, such as viruses and infections, enduring a sunburn can cause your body to produce more white blood cells to fight off the sunburn, leaving other areas of your body at risk of experiencing health problems. You can avoid getting sick unnecessarily by always weighing sunscreen and avoiding unprotected sun exposure.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is a common dermatological concern that can range from mild and benign to severe and malignant. UV radiation is one of the leading causes of skin cancer, including melanoma, basal-cell carcinoma, and squamous-cell carcinoma. While melanoma may be one of the least common skin cancers, making up only three percent of all cases of skin cancers, it is the cause of up to seventy-five percent of skin cancer-related deaths.
Call The Beauty Experts
At Hydrate Salon in Scottsdale, AZ, it’s not only possible but convenient to achieve the perfect tan without putting your health at risk. Our high-quality tanning solutions will ensure that you look your best all season long, while concealing tan lines, reducing the appearance of imperfections, and enhancing muscle definition. To schedule the best spray tan you’ve ever had at our luxury salon, schedule an appointment with one of our skilled and licensed technicians today!
