The summer time is perfect for time outdoors and soaking in all the goodness you can get from the sun! While this golden sunlight might feel great on your skin, prolonged exposure to the harmful rays of the sun can leave your skin tanned. While many people think that tanning is only caused by sun exposure, it is not. People can experience tanning from various other factors as well. Let’s dive in to see what these factors are!
What Causes Skin Tan Other Than Sun Exposure
Here are the factors other than sun exposure that can get your skin tanned!
- Artificial UV Exposure: You might think that spending time in the sun is the only way you can get tanned skin, but there are other ways, too. Tanning beds and sunlamps emit concentrated ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which goes deep into the skin and stimulates melanin production. This artificial source will leave you with quickened and darkened tanned skin.
- Indoor Lighting: Most lights present in homes don’t cause your skin to tan, but the ones with high intensity might cause you to tan. Some lamps may emit low levels of UV radiation. Exposure to these lamps for prolonged hours can lead to subtel tanning.
- Reflected UV Rays: Being near highly reflective surfaces like water, sand, snow, or even light-colored concrete can also get you tanned. UV rays bounce off these surfaces and go onto your skin. This indirect exposure can cause tanning even when you’re not in the presence of direct sunlight.
How to Prevent Tanning?
Take the following measures this summer to ensure that you don’t get tanned!
- Start wearing a sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher daily. Make sure you apply it 30 minutes before you step out.
- Remember to reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours.
- When spending long hours under the sun, wear protective clothing.
- Try to stay in the shade and avoid direct UV exposure.
- Avoid going out during peak sun hours. This starts from 10 am and ends at 4 pm.
