Chocolate tan came into vogue. If a trip to the sea is postponed, a solarium and beauty products come to the rescue. Our consultant, certified dermatologist Elena Yudina, will tell you how to tan properly and beautifully without harming your health.
April 10 2014
A solarium’s ultraviolet attack is 10 times more powerful than the sun’s radiation in the tropics. Therefore, we get a tan in a beauty salon much faster than on the seashore. You cannot lie under the electric beams for a long time, even if it seems that the effect is not too noticeable. The fact is that under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, the cells of the epidermis (the upper layer of the skin) begin to divide, this is a normal protective reaction of the body. But this process leads to skin hardening. As soon as exposure to the sun (artificial or real) stops, the hardened and burnt areas return to their original state. But there is an unpleasant moment: in youth, recovery takes place in a month, and at the age of 40 it takes 80 days.
To get an even chocolate tan, it is enough to go to the solarium 4-7 times. But the duration of the first three sessions should not exceed 3 minutes, and subsequent procedures – 5 minutes.
Another important law that cosmetologists and dermatologists are asked to comply with is the 50/48 rule. It means that you cannot visit the solarium more than 50 times a year, and there must be an interval of 48 hours between sessions.
Before the procedure in the salon, select a cosmetic composition that will protect you from excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Which remedy is right depends on your skin tone. The lighter it is, the higher the sun protection index (SPF) should be. For example, dark-skinned brunettes have enough composition, the bottle of which says SPF 5, for blondes it is better to buy a tube with SPF 30. To overpay for jars on which the manufacturer wrote that the degree of protection of the product is 80 or more units is pointless. They work in the same way as formulations with an SPF 50 index. High numbers on the label are just a publicity stunt.
If the skin is already tanned under the southern sun, infrequent visits to the solarium help to maintain a beautiful color longer. In this case, before the session, you can apply a tanning accelerator to the body. It will attract UV rays. Please note that it must be written on the product that it is suitable for a tanning bed.
If you’re on a diet, small dietary changes can help keep your tan. Add melon and tomatoes, dairy products, dried apricots to the menu. The fact is that along with weight, the body also loses useful substances: vitamins C and B, beta-carotene, iron and calcium, which are needed for the formation of melanin, a pigment that makes the skin darker.
25% of people are hypersensitive to ultraviolet light. Melanin is synthesized under the guidance of the hormonal system, so the painful reaction to rays is often associated with endocrine disorders. Medicines (antibiotics, antifungal agents, synthetic vitamin A) also increase sensitivity to the sun.
If ultraviolet light is contraindicated, cosmetics help out. It also helps to sunbathe in one day (in a solarium, such an effect cannot be achieved without harm to health). To make your skin look darker, treat it with a self-tanning cosmetic. It also has another name – bronze. This can be lotion, milk, spray, or dry oil. They have to be applied carefully so as not to get streaks. It is much easier to use a self-tanning napkin. The composition with which it is impregnated does not leave unsightly stains.
Note: Self-tanning needs testing. Apply a drop of the composition to the skin and follow the reaction. If no unpleasant symptoms appear within 12 hours, the remedy is right for you.
Any skin needs protection from ultraviolet radiation. For example, owners of hairless dogs and cats, before taking their pets for a walk, treat them with sunscreen with an SPF 15 index.