Pro Tips to Protect Your Skin from Tan, Sunburn and Sun Damage

by Aman Khanna Finance

The golden brown tan skin that you get from the sun, which you might like, is actually sun damage caused by UV rays.

We know the love for tan skin look, but exposing it to the sun simply causes damage, and you need to protect your skin by using a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Our best bet is Lotus sunscreen SPF 50 that gives you a wide coverage, protecting your skin against burn and damages and long-term effects like cancer.

Before we move further to some really simple and easy tips to protect skin from tanning, let us first see what are suntan, sunburn, and sun damage.

Suntan

UV rays have two parts: UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays penetrate the lower layers of the skin causing increased production of melanin. The body produces more melanin as a protective mechanism against the damage caused by sunrays.

Melanin is responsible for giving skin its colour. More the melanin, darker the skin tone. The overproduction of melanin in the sun gives you suntan when exposed to harmful UVA rays.

Sunburn

UVB rays harm the upper layer of the skin resulting in sunburn. These rays burn the skin layer causing redness, inflammation, burns, and peeling and blistering of the skin in extreme cases.

Sun damage

Sun damage is the result of long exposures to UV rays. It causes:

Broken veins and damaged cells
Early ageing of the skin
Visible fine lines and wrinkles
Pigmentation, spots. and blotches
Loss of skin elasticity or sagging
Uneven texture and skin tones
Skin cancer

Now, as you can distinguish between the three types of detrimental effects of sun exposure, take a look at the tips to protect your skin and keep it supple and healthy:

Always wear sunscreen before going out in the sun, even on cloudy days. A sunscreen with at least SPF 30 must be used for protecting skin against a tan and other damages.

Apply sunscreen liberally onto your skin ideally before 15 minutes of sun exposure. Reapplication is required after sweating, swimming, and every two hours.

Opt for a sunscreen with broad-spectrum as it protects against both UVA rays and UVB rays.
Replace the expired sunscreen.
Reduce the duration of sun exposure, especially between 11 am to 4 pm.
Avoid using tanning beds and limit your pool time.
Use water-resistant and cream or gel-based sunscreen as they last longer and provide good skin coverage. Water-resistant sunscreens range between 40-80 minutes of resistance, and they are ideal when swimming or performing water sports or activities.
Seek shadow when in the sun and take breaks more often. Keep changing your body angle to avoid continuous exposure and damage to a single body part.
Cover yourself well with tightly woven and breathable clothes before going out in the sun.
Use broad sunglasses to protect eyes and sensitive under-eye area.
Wear a hat with an overall brim of at least 4 inches to cover the face, ears, and neck.
Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated to maintain body temperature.
Exfoliate skin regularly to unclog pores, remove dead cells and tan, and get better results from using sunscreen.
Avoid reflective areas, like sand, beaches, water, as they accelerate sun damage.
Avoid using mosquito-repellent creams with sunscreens as the chemicals in two are no good to skin and body.
Wash your face frequently to cool down the skin.
Tanning accelerators or pills are not a sure way to get the tan look. Simply, enjoy the skin you are in and flaunt it in the healthiest state.

Your sun protection tips don’t end here. What is equally important is to pick the best sunscreen in India that suits your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Generally, all sunscreens suit most of the skin types, and you can check for the required features. Browse the wide range of sunscreen by Lotus Organics, including mineral sunscreens, with 100% certified organic and natural ingredients that are gentle on the skin and protect your skin most efficiently.