We all want that glowing sun kissed skin that we see on TV and magazines. A tan makes you feel healthy and young where as pale skin is associated with sickness and indoors person that’s not out there and active. We have also heard over the years that using a sun bed moderately can help clear acne, this is true but the important word in that sentence is MODERATLY! Sun beds and UV rays in general are very bad for your skin health wise and beauty wise.


It’s ironic that the very rays that make you feel beautiful and youthful are actually aging your skin at a rapid rate and draining all the oils and nutrients from our skin. A tan is the body’s way of defending itself against the harmful rays of the sun by producing course dark skin on the upper layer to act as a shield against the sun. Healthy soft young skin is soft and supple with no sins of sun damage or exposure. Think about what would happen to a plum if you left it out all day in the sun as apposed to sheltered in the cupboard, it would be dried out and wrinkled just like your skin will be.


UV rays are not only very aging to our skin more importantly they are very dangerous for our skin. It was once thought that UVB rays where the harmful rays and that UVA rays where the aging rays but didn’t have any harmful effects to our health, it has been recently proven that both UVB and UVA rays are known to cause cancerous cells and need to be avoided at all costs. Malignant Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is caused by exposure to the UV rays. It manifests in the skins pigmentation causing brown spots that can be clearly seen on the skin.


These types of cancer have risen by 80% over the last forty years coinciding with the rise in popularity of tanning. Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer and presents itself as a red or shiny lump on the arm which will have to be cut out of the skin. Squamous Cell Carcinoma is similar to the previous but can develop into sore ulcers that will sometimes bleed. You need to be vigilant with checking and searching for new marks or spots on your body after periods of sun exposure.


All sunbeds and long periods of sun exposure are dangerous to your health and should be avoided. Always use sun protector and try to minimize sun exposure especially between noon and 3pm as this is when the sun is at its strongest. Pale skin is very susceptible to burning and skin cancers so should cover up with long sleeves and hats when out in the sun as well as a very high factor of about 50+.


There is no point gambling with your skins health it is after all the source of internal health and beauty so protect it at all costs. There are other safe ways to achieve that California look of beach babe tans and that is to invest in a good fake tan that you can apply at your own leisure or can be applied professionally at a salon. This will save your skin keeping it safe and smooth and youthful. Remember healthy skin is beautiful skin.