Introduction
You might have seen many people basking in the sun on beaches or in swimming pools in order to get dark skin. This process is called tanning. In the normal sense, it might be seen as a beneficial effect but the reality is just the opposite! Tanning is a process that occurs due to damage to the skin cells. You might be wondering how is this possible right? So here we will explain the process of how tanning occurs and what side effects it can bring so that you can avoid it as much as possible.
What is tanning?
The ultraviolet rays arriving from our sun have two types in them: UV-A and UV-B. The difference between the two rays is how deep they are able to travel when they strike your skin. UV-B rays can only impact the upper layers and cannot travel further hence they cause sunburns. UV-A rays on the other hand travel to great depths in our skin thus causing damage to our DNA. This damage your body detects and in order to protect from further damage cause melanocytes to become active and produce melanin which gives your skin more dark color.
What problems tanning can cause?
Premature aging or fine lines or wrinkles UV-A rays when traveling through our skin carry a lot of energy with them. When they impact the collagen or elastin fibers present in your skin, it starts to degrade. This causes our skin to develop fine lines, wrinkles, or freckles as your skin now becomes loose and the tightness provided by the collagen is lost.
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Hyperpigmentation
As melanin builds up in your skin, it gets darker. This can lead to the development of patches on your skin. This might seem cosmetically unacceptable to you and can even affect your confidence level in public places and even in your personal life.
Melasma
Melasma is discoloration of your skin recognized by the development of patches, especially around the cheeks, forehead, bridge of the nose, or your chin. These develop in those areas which are most vulnerable to sunlight but can also occur on forearms and your neck.
Sunburns
The sun’s ultraviolet rays can also cause sunburns. Sunburns occur due to skin cells getting damaged due to which our immune system gets activated and more blood is sent to the damaged area thus causing that characteristic redness and also causing more heat to be emanated from that area. The cells which are damaged also let go of some chemicals that cause you to feel the burning sensation and the white cells dispatched to the site cause the itching and peeling sensation.
Skin cancer
This is the worst form of punishment sun rays can cause; these rays can damage the DNA and can cause skin cancer to develop especially in areas which are most exposed to the sun in everyday life. These cancers are called either basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas depending on the cell type in which these cancers start.
Wrap Up
As you have learned how ignoring skin tanning for a long time can be dangerous, it is good to be proactive. You should cover your body when exposed to sunlight for a long time while traveling, walking, etc. to prevent skin tanning. At Allure MedSpa, we have been providing skin treatments for over two decades. You can consult all your skin-related concerns with our dermatologist by calling 9869041559.