 | Steve Brotton
is a Nurse Practitioner who has worked in Preventive Medicine and Bariatrics (treatment of obesity and eating disorders) for over twenty years. He previously worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner in General Practice where he saw the profound effect obesity and overweight issues were having on patients' health and medical conditions and he found by implementing a weight management program for the patient that frequently it would correct and control their hypertension, diabetes, gastric problems, or lower their risk to develop these problems. Steve has worked extensively in medical weight management. You can reach Steve and his team by e-mail at Kelloggclinic@hotmail.com or by phone at (316) 682-5900. |
Diet & Nutrition
2004-05-01 17:17:00
Can you ever get a ‘healthy’ tan?
Question: Is there such a thing as a ‘healthy’ tan?
ANSWER: This question is asked frequently, and the answer should be NO. But our skin has certain protective mechanisms that become active whenever it is exposed to sunlight. One is pigmentation, which is caused by melanin, and the other is the thickening of the epidermis and horny layer of the skin. However these protective mechanisms occur only after chronic light exposure and cannot fully remove the chances of getting sunburn or cause other skin reactions due to UV radiation. Even on a cloudy day, 70% to 80% of UV radiation can pass through thin clouds. On cloudy days your skin might feel cooler and because of this it is less likely you will notice you are getting sun burned, which can become quite a problem.Tanning beds cannot provide you with a healthy tan since they use an amount of UVA radiation that is two to three times higher than from the sun at sea level. The best way to get a "healthy" tan is using a self-tanning cosmetic product. They usually contain an active ingredient called dihydroxyacetone that stains the outer layer of the skin so it will appear darker. Be aware that this type of tan will not provide sun protection since it has no impact on the production of melanin.It is true that the body needs a small amount of sunlight in order to produce Vitamin D, however, much less than it takes to get a tan. Most people today associate a suntan with good health and vitality, yet few realize that sun exposure accumulates over the years and could lead to premature aging of the skin and/or can cause many forms of skin cancer.Playing out in the sun is fun, so put on a good amount of sun protection cream with at least SPF 15. Reapply every one to two hours. You will still tan but it will just take longer. However the SPF is a shield to prevent you from sunburn. A SPF 20 for instance allows you to stay in the sun 20 times longer without getting sunburn, than it would with no sunscreen at all. Therefore you will tan as much as with a SPF 8 if you stay proportionately longer in the sun. But anyhow always be aware that a high SPF is not your license to stay in the sun and fry. Any impact of UV-radiation - be it a tan or sunburn - can lead to skin cancer! Sunscreen should not be your first choice of protection. Cover up or stay in the shade!
