Case Lot Tanning

Case Lot Tanning

Natural Tanning?

I live in Miami, FL and I'm pretty pale. Every time I go to the beach or pool I try to tan using 15-25 SPF suncream and swimming, but instead of tanning, I just get sunburn. My friend told me that I should put on a lot of tanning lotion, then sunscreen and then go swimming. Now, I haven't tried this yet so it might work, but just in case, does any one have any other suggestions that don't include tanning beds, spray on tan, or high risk of skin cancer. I would appreciate any help, thanks.

P.S. Man I feel like a queer asking a Beauty and Style question. No offense.

If your skin is Type I or II (which it sounds like it is based on your description), then you'll have a difficult and slow time obtaining a tan without burning when outdoors. With Type I-II skin (tans slowly, burns easily), you'll need to take it slow and steady. This means, you will need to get out into the sun regularly (daily or every other day), but for short intervals and progressively, but slowly, increase your exposure. The problem is, melanin shows up in the skin as pink/redish initially (and then oxidizes to brown within 1-2 weeks). That pink/red can be misinterpreted as a burn. A burn includes redness combined with pain/tenderness, heat (skin is hot to touch), sometimes swelling, sometimes blistering and peeling. If you're pink/red without any pain, heat, blistering or peeling, then that is melanin color. You never want to burn as that will not give color and burning is definitely a precursor to skin cancer.

As far as cancer risk, there are, as yet, no techniques to activate the melanocytes (produce melanin/pigment) without UV exposure. This means, you are always at risk from potential cancer no matter how much UV exposure you get. This is why you should factor in your family history before exposure to UV. If members of your family have had skin cancer in the past, then you may not want to risk the exposure levels necessary to obtain a tan based on Type I or II skin.

As for SPF lotions, I'll just say this. If you're outdoors, use them. But, don't really expect to tan well with high SPF (greater than 20) on. You also don't want to use an SPF lotion, then swim. The water washes it right off (the reason why you burn). To tan, stay out of the water and try to sweat minimally. If you're heavily sweating, reapply the lotion frequently. If you're wanting to tan, use a lower SPF value (2-10). Don't use 35. With that low SPF, you'll want to stay out for short periods (start out at 15 minutes and progress by 3-5 minutes each day). If you get burned (even minimally), then don't go out the next day. Skip the next 24-48 hours to let the burn subside. Once you have reached your minutes for that day, get out of the sun completely. Don't put on a high SPF and stay out longer or you will burn. If you know you're going to be outside for a long period, then put on a high SPF regularly and don't lay out to tan that day.

As a side note, there are some drugs in late clinical trials that will aid in melanocyte stimulation with minimal and/or no UV exposure. These drugs will allow Type I and II skin types to effectively produce melanin/pigment as well as Type IV or V (tan easily, burn rarely) skin types. But, these won't be available on the market for several years yet. So, for the moment, you should opt for slow steady exposure if you really want a tan.

I know you don't want to use tanning beds, but I will say something about them here. Tanning beds offer controlled exposure where the sun does not. By using a tanning bed, you have much more control over your UV exposure levels. Using a tanning bed will give you color without the burn if you follow the proper exposure schedule (and use the proper lotions). Outdoor exposure is varied based on time of day/month/year, cloud cover, heat, locale, etc. So, tanning outdoors is kind of like throwing the dice. One day might give you optimal rays and the next might give you half that many and the next day might burn you (all with the same number of minutes). With a properly operated salon and knowledgable staff, tanning beds offer controlled exposure without the risk for burning each and every time you use a bed.

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Police: Conn. mom left kids in car while tanning
ENFIELD, Conn. (AP) — Police in Connecticut say a 28-year-old mother is charged with leaving her two young children in her car in freezing temperatures while she went tanning in a salon.

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