It’s been a long, drawn out winter and many people are chomping at the bit to get outside and soak up some rays. Whether you have the type of skin that tans easily or need SPF50 and higher to protect against blisters and sun burn, you’ll want to prepare yourself before exposing your skin to the potentially harmful UV rays of the sun.
Much like people who go on vacations to warm tropical places in the middle of winter, you need to gradually prep your skin before simply spending an entire day tanning your body. Your skin has been kept from the sun for a few months now and going out unprotected the first chance you get is asking for trouble.
During the winter the UV rays of the sun are of a lower intensity and don’t affect the skin as powerfully as it does in the summer when the sun is closer to the earth. During the winter months the skin will regain its natural coloration and this makes the skin more sensitive to sunburns during the summer. To prepare your skin for the summer follow some helpful tips that will avoid painful burns and uneven tans.
A good start is to exfoliate your skin about once a week to remove all the dead skin cells from your body. Removing the dead skin will promote healthy skin regeneration and this will ensure a uniform tan. If you don’t exfoliate your skin you could wind up with dark spots and uneven tan lines that look awkward.
After each exfoliation treatment remember to moisturize to prevent dry skin. Moisturizing helps reduce dry skin symptoms and makes it easier for your skin to handle intense UV sunlight. The more you moisturize, the healthier you r skin will get and this is necessary when exposing your skin to the sun.
Don’t lie out for several hours the first time you go tanning. It’s always a good idea to gradually expose your skin to the sun in timed increments that get longer each time you spend time outside. Too much exposure too soon can lead to sunburns that may cause skin cancer and premature aging skin.