A suntan can throw off your entire beauty regime, especially when you want to attend a big event and look your best. Your skin has naturally healing properties, which means the tan will eventually fade away, but if you’re in a hurry or have an important day coming up, we understand the urgency.
What is Tan?
When your skin cells are exposed to UV rays from the sun, they go into protection mode. Melanin from melanocytes is transferred to keratinocytes, which are surface skin cells. In defense mode, the melanin pigment blocks UV radiation from further cell damage. Melanin is stacked like an umbrella over the nucleus of the cell, a process that occurs in all skin cells exposed to the sun, causing the skin to darken. Therefore tanning is visible on the exposed part of the body. Tanning is the process by which the skin color (melanin) increases in the skin after exposure to the sun, which causes darkening. It is our body’s natural defense mechanism that protects your skin from the sun like a shield.
However, people with lighter skin usually cannot make enough of the melanin pigment. The manufactured melanin is not as efficient, and therefore the skin in the exposed areas tends to burn.
What is sunburn- Sunburn is a skin reaction to excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. You can see sunlight and feel heat (infrared radiation), but you cannot see or feel UV radiation. It can damage your skin even on cold, cloudy days.
Sunburn is a type of inflammation characterized by blistering, swelling, rash and peeling of the skin and is caused by damage from UV rays, often within hours of exposure to the sun. It is dangerous and causes serious damage to your skin, which can lead to premature aging and skin cancer.
While sunburn is dangerous, regular tanning also greatly increases the chances of both premature aging and cancer, in addition to wearing sunscreen on a daily basis, always avoiding the midday sun, seeking out shades when possible and It is best to wear protective clothing.
With inputs from Dr Imran Ahmed Dermatologist and Cosmetologist at Amber Nursing Home and Skincare Centre.