When you expose yourself to the sun, you need to take some precautions to avoid sunburn and maintain an even tan. UV rays not only dry out the skin and accelerate its aging, they also irritate it. In addition to using sunscreen to protect against sunburn, it is recommended that you build up your tan slowly and gradually.
Library
All Topics
Why You Should Gradually Build Up Your Tan
Summary
Published February 29, 2024,
by
Maylis, Chemical Engineer
—
4 min read
Tan – A Definition
Tanning is nothing more than a natural process that enables the skin to defend itself against the harmful effects of the sun's UV rays. On a biological level, melanocytes produce melanin (the pigment responsible for brown color), which then moves to the surface of the epidermis and colors it. If exposure to the sun lasts too long and/or the UVB rays are too intense, a sunburn replaces the tan. UVA rays enter further than UVB rays and reach a deeper layer of the skin.
How To Gradually Build Up a Tan
The skin has a “memory”. Therefore, when it is gradually exposed to the sun, it has time to adapt to UV rays and start the melanogenesis process. This is a complex process by which the pigment melanin is produced by melanocytes. Furthermore, the sun's UV rays can irritate the skin, which is why it is important to give it time between sunbaths to calm down and absorb moisture.
For a long-lasting and even tan, you should therefore expose yourself to UV rays gradually. A few minutes of tanning is all you need to start tanning. Increase the exposure time as the days go by.
Be careful! Avoid exposing yourself to the sun between 11 am and 3 pm. At these times, UV rays reach their highest intensity, the radiation is very strong and they are particularly harmful.
Never Forget Your Sunscreen!
It is extremely important that you use sunscreen when you are in the sun. Choose the sun protection factor (SPF) according to your skin's sensitivity and tone. The SPF is an index that indicates the degree of protection provided by a sunscreen. The higher the SPF, the higher the level of sun protection. This index measures the ability to block UV rays.
Our sunscreen for the face has SPF 30, and this protective care is enriched with aloe vera, karanja oil and hyaluronic acid from fermented wheat. The clever blend of these three components prevents photoaging while maintaining the hydration level of the skin.
Bonus: The lightweight texture leaves a streak-free, non-sticky and non-shiny finish. For prolonged exposure to the sun (hiking, sea, etc.), periodic application is recommended, about every 2 hours.
Diagnostic
Understand your skin
and its complex needs.