Suntan Guide
Fancy an all over natural beach bronzed glow this summer? Read on and follow our handy guide to a perfect safe tan. Your bags are packed and you're ready to jet off to that fab holiday destination. O.k. there's a tingling of excitement mixed with a teeny bit of worry - what are the risks - flying, terrorists, crime, tummy upsets? Yup, these are all possibilities but so are they if you stay at home. So that's not going to freak you out. The difference in surroundings, lifestyle, food, climate is what it's all about. Sunbathing, swimming, meeting new people are all part of it. The little frisson of danger is what we all secretly like. But there's more than a little trouble waiting for you and it's so low-key and insidious that you don't know how much it's going to hurt you. It's what you possibly won't be focusing on that is the real menace when you go abroad.
A great, healthy looking golden tan
The biggest danger of all is from the sun. Yes I know those idyllic pics in the travel brochures are fixed in your mind. Isn't two weeks lying by the pool or on the beach what it's all about? Your towel on the sun lounger, a leisurely chilled beer from the poolside bar, your new swimwear and you're going to be have a great, healthy looking golden tan before you come home. The long slow drinks and the attentive waiters ... yes please.... but lying in the sun all day? You won't know it right off - but this is a tourist trap you're going to fall right in, bronzed skin first.
Sun-tanning is a definite risk
Do you know how many cases of skin cancer there were last year in the U.K? Alright, I'll tell you. There were 60,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and 7,000 new cases of melanoma (which are the most deadly). Every year around 1,600 people will die from this. These cases have doubled in the past 20 years and it's the fastest growing form of cancer. The reason? Foreign holidays. Not that there's anything wrong with travelling to the world's hotspots - if you know what the dangers are - but the days of toasting to a deep bronze have to go. We know better now. Exposure to the sun can be deadly and tour operators are being criticised for not providing enough warning and advice. A gentle warning isn't enough.
Who is most at risk?
Children are obviously at risk, they have young tender skins that burn easily. Anyone with a fair complexion, who has freckles or who know that they'll soon change colour - redheads for example. If you have a large number of moles you are one of the folk who really have to be careful. Anyone who has already had sunburn, even if it's a long time previously, must take extra care to stay out of the midday sun.
Tanning is trouble
It's difficult for health officials to get the message through. People go on holiday wanting to get a tan. It does look good. Why do we associate a glowing tan with health and beauty? That's the message it gives out - look at me, I'm feeling great! But the long term damage is irreversible. Most of us do accept that UV rays from the sun are dangerous - but because it doesn't happen straight away and we've put on loads of sunscreen, we think it'll all be alright.
Take it easy
The only way to protect yourself is to stay out of the sun at the hottest part of the day - between 11.0am and 3.0pm. Wear a floppy hat to keep the rays away from your face and neck - if you don't then no amount of skin products will stop you wrinkling like an old prune twenty or so years down the line. You need to use a high factor protective sunscreen and apply it often - be careful not to miss any bits like the back of your knees or your inner arms. Don't forget you can burn in the water just as easily. And cover up for that boat trip or the saunter off to the hippy market - you won't only sizzle on the beach. Take it easy and build your tan up slowly. Aim for just a gentle touch of colour - a bit of sunlight is definitely good for you and a light golden glow looks heavenly - just remember that a burnt offering looks like hell.
(Tracked from MaxitMag)
