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Is
tanned skin a damaged skin?
No!
Tanning of the skin is the body's natural mechanism to protect against
exposure and over exposure to UV rays. When exposed to UV rays
cells in our skin are triggered into action releasing melanin, which 'brown'
as they rise to the skin's surface. This is what produces a 'tan'. UV
rays will also activate another mechanism which is the thickening
of the outer epidermis layer of the skin. This can take 2-5 days,
so rushing the natural process by subjecting the skin to too much
UV will result in sunburn and signs of prolonged exposure, e.g. skin
aging.
What
real evidence is there that links sunbed use to cancer?
Despite
what you may read in the tabloids, medical research is unable to
link the recent incidence of skin cancer to the use of sunbeds. What has
become obvious though, is that burning your skin particularly at a young
age is more likely to lead to problems. Whilst tanning in natural sunlight
is uncontrolled and difficult to monitor, sunbed use provides the control
needed to avoid the problems associated with burning your skin. The
type of sunbed and length of session must all be considered when developing
a personalised tanning program. Over-use, as with over exposure
to UV rays and natural sunlight, will not avoid the pitfalls associated
with burning. However, used sensibly sunbeds provide a more
controlled environment in which to tan.
How
many subed sessions should you have?
This
is highly dependent on your skin type. The general rule is to start
with 20 sessions (5 per week) and thereafter continue at the rate of 2-3
times per week in order to maintain that 'special glow'. This will ensure
that you avoid over-exposure and should be especially heeded by
those with fair skins.
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