How to get a healthy tan without sunburn? It works with a few simple tricks! Which ones ensure a summery tan complexion, you can find out here!
Summer, sun and brown skin definitely belong together. For a crisp brown summer complexion, you first have to sweat in the sun.
But is it even healthy to tan in the blazing sun?
Sunburn happens quickly, and this much is clear: it causes lasting damage to the skin and can promote skin cancer.
But because you surely also want natural, healthy and tanned skin in the summer, you will learn today how you can get a healthy tan. Without sunburn and without skin damage.
Table of contents
You want to get a tan fast? Then look here!
What happens to your skin when you tan
For me, it's like this: I lie in the sun for what feels like only one minute and I'm already sunburned. My brother, on the other hand, looks crisp and tan after an extended sunbath.
Why is that? What happens to our skin when we soak up the sun?
Whenever you lie in the sun, sun rays shine on your skin in the form of UV rays. A distinction is made between UV-A and UV-B radiation.
When the rays hit your skin, they activate pigment cells (melanocytes), which produce melanin. The pigment melanin gives the skin its typical brownish color. The more pigment cells there are, the darker the skin becomes.
Light skin often contains fewer pigment cells and therefore hardly releases any melatonin. Instead, it burns faster and therefore becomes red.
That explains why I turn red and my brother brown. It's an unfair world, but there are solutions for that, too. We'll show you them later in the article!
So fair-skinned people should spend less time in the sun and always use sunscreen. For me as a fair-skinned person, ten to 15 minutes are already enough for a lightly tanned skin.
Through the tanning process, the body is actually trying to protect DNA from damage caused by sunlight. So what we feel is sexy is basically an act of desperation by the body.
The darker the skin, the better it is protected against sunburn. But due to the tan, our body only has a sun protection factor of three to four.
Especially with the long-wave UV-A rays you have to be careful. They penetrate deep into the skin layers and can damage collagen fibers. This promotes the formation of wrinkles and deteriorates the elasticity of the skin.
So you can keep your tan for a long time!
What you need to know about skin types and the skin's own protection time
We have just touched on the different skin types quite superficially. It depends on your skin type when getting a healthy tan, because dark skin usually reacts differently to sun rays than light skin.
Dermatologists distinguish between six different skin types. External influences such as fragrances, medications and skin diseases can also increase the sensitivity of the skin.
The fact that we humans have different pigmentation has a genetic and also a topographical reason. We are originally descended from African, very dark-skinned people.
In Africa, a very sunny environment, dark skin provides good protection against UV radiation. Gradually, Northern and Central Europe were colonized. However, in these regions there is relatively little sunlight.
As mentioned above, six different skin types were agreed upon in 1975. They were developed by the American dermatologist Thomas B. Fitzpatrick. The skin types differ in the number and activity of pigment cells.
This is the best home remedy for sunburn!
Types one to four are European skin types. How much melanin your skin can produce is therefore genetically predetermined and healthy tanning becomes a very individual matter.
Depending on which skin type you belong to, the self-protection time varies. This is the time in which the skin can protect itself from sunburn.
There are general specifications for the self-protection time. However, it is difficult to make general statements because each person reacts individually.
In general, here are some clues:
| Risk of sunburn | Tanning | Self-protection time with UV index 8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin type 1 | Always and very quickly | Never | 15 minutes |
| Skin type 2 | Very often to always | Occasionally | 20 minutes |
| Skin type 3 | Occasionally | Always | 30 minutes |
| Skin type 4 | Very rarely to never | Always and very quickly | 40 minutes |
| Skin type 5 | Never | Only in extreme sun | 60 minutes |
| Skin type 6 | Never | Only in extreme sun | 80 minutes |
Can you get a healthy tan with sunscreen
Even a summery complexion requires sufficient sun protection when sunbathing! A healthy tan can also be achieved by applying sunscreen to your skin.
Choose a sunscreen that matches your skin type to provide the appropriate SPF.
Here, relaxed sunbathing even becomes a bit of mathematics. Let's take me as an example. I have very fair skin with a self-protection time of 20 minutes and apply sunscreen with SPF 20. Then I can stay for about six to seven hours and get a healthy tan.
The calculation is simple: 20 minutes x sun protection factor 20=400
Just at the beginning of the sunbathing season it is important to protect the skin from UV rays, because it is not yet accustomed to the sun. Many dermatologists warn fundamentally against direct sun exposure and recommend to cream after swimming. By the way, I always do this!
The best sunscreens are those that absorb quickly and are not greasy. Especially when you are on the mountain, walking in the city or do not want to smear all your clothes with sunscreen.
All this I can learn from the Suntribe sunscreen* claim. I recently started using it myself because it is organic, free from additives such as preservatives, alcohol or perfume and is made without synthetics.
This benefits everyone who has sensitive skin and who has no desire for chemicals on and in the body. With the Suntribe discount code* "wegowild" you can save 10% on the order.
And you're also doing nature a favor. Because conventional sunscreen produces a lot of plastic. But Suntribe packs the cream in sugar tubes.
The sun protection factor is 30. Only a cream with a sun protection factor can prevent his skin from getting damaged while lying in the sun. At the beginning of the season, it's best to use a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor.
The more your skin has become accustomed to the sun, the lower the sun protection factor can be.
Learn more about organic sunscreen here!
How to get a healthy tan
Without question tanned skin is super sexy! Beautiful tanned legs in summer dress look stunning and healthy. But getting a healthy tan is just as important as looking healthy.
Sun rays lift the mood and give and irresistible summer complexion, but they are also dangerous and harmful to the skin.
Get a healthy tan with these tips:
#1 Start in the shade
A lot of help a lot - not when sunbathing! Start slowly! Especially at the beginning of summer you should first stay in the shade, because there you will also get a tan. In the shade you do not stress your skin so much and you can get a healthy tan.
Little by little, you can then go out into the sun more and more often.
So you can get a tan in the shade!
#2 Preparing skin for healthy tan
Cream, cream, cream: Before you lie down in the gloriously warm sun, you must apply a sufficiently strong sunscreen. Anything else would be simply negligent!
You get a healthy tan even with sunscreen. Even a higher sun protection factor does not negatively influence the tanning effect. Choose the one that suits you best.
Our tip: For your face, be sure to use waterproof sunscreen.
The skin cannot get a healthy tan in the long term if you get a sunburn in between, because the skin then peels. So do not forget the sunscreen!
#3 Care after tanning
Just like you, your skin needs extra moisture after an extensive sunbath.
To ensure that your summer complexion lasts as long as possible, you should apply after-sun lotion and care for your stressed skin.
Through the nourishing active ingredients, your skin can regenerate more easily. Personally, I like to use creams with aloe vera and cool them in the refrigerator before I apply them.
Curd against sunburn - good or bad idea?
#4 Diet
The most beautiful and healthy tan also comes from within. In general, a healthy and balanced diet is the basis for beautifully tanned skin and reduces negative effects such as skin aging.
Carotenoid-rich foods like carrots and plums can help your skin recover more easily and quickly from sun exposure. Another benefit is that they give your skin an all-natural glow.
Omega 3 is a natural moisturizer for your skin. Olive oil or fish therefore offer the skin valuable support in the fight against drying sun rays.
So a delicious salad with carrots and balsamic olive oil dressing can help to get a healthy tan and especially stay that way!
When the sun tans best
Timing is half the battle when it comes to sunbathing. To ensure that you stay fresh and tanned through the summer, you should take advantage of the intense hours of sunshine.
Most of the time they are around noon. In the early morning or just late evening, the strength of the sun decreases.
We do not recommend that you spend the very intense midday period directly in the sun, but a few hours later. It is important that your skin can withstand stronger sun rays and that you apply sufficient sun protection!
Sunburn on the face - what to do?
With what tricks you can help
If intense sun exposure isn't for you or you want a quick tan, you can help get a summer tan with simple remedies.
Self tanner
The classic among tanning aids - self-tanner. The wonder drug in the tanner is called dihydroxyacetone (DHA for short). This molecule reacts with the amino acids in already dead skin cells and thus colors the outermost layer of skin.
Quick tan is the motto here, because in only one to eight hours the tan develops. The quick DHA tan accompanies you for a good week.
However, you have to make a few preparations when applying it so that you don't get any unsightly spots. The fresh tan should look even, as if made by the sun. Therefore, you should exfoliate and shave well beforehand.
Spraytanning
Is that too complicated for you? It's easier than that! Spray tanning in the studio conjures up a quick tan in just ten minutes. A tanning shower promises simple and quick tanning for the whole body.
You should also exfoliate beforehand, shave your body and take care of dry skin areas. Of course, you need to remove your makeup before the shower and you should not wear deodorant.
After spray tanning, it takes up to six hours until the skin is dry again. We recommend relaxed and especially loose clothing after the tanning shower.
With spray tanning, unlike natural sunbathing, you can choose a color shade. Desired tan in just one shower!
Tanning capsules
Unlike conventional self-tanning or spray tanning, tanning capsules rely on tanning from the inside.
Tanning capsules can improve the health as well as the natural protective function of the skin due to the vitamins, antioxidants and nourishing substances they contain.
Ingredients such as vitamins B, C and E nourish the skin and keep it supple. Natural, high-dose carotene (you remember plums and carrots?) causes a slight brownish tint to the skin when taken regularly.
The strength of the effect of the capsules is individual and often not as intense as self-tanning lotions or tanning showers.
UV permeable clothing
Did you know that there are even clothes through which you can tan? That means unsightly tan lines are now a thing of the past!
There are UV permeable clothes that make the tan really perfect, even if you are dressed. But beware: people like to forget about sun protection!
Our conclusion
We simply feel good in the sun. The crisp tan skin is another benefit that comes with an afternoon sunbath. The skin looks fresher and healthier.
But for the healthy tan you must pay attention to a few hints and tips. Sun protection, the right time and your diet are important factors to get a healthy tan. If you follow our tips, you don't have to worry about sunburn and skin aging. Enjoy the sun and shine with your summery complexion.
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