The notion of getting a tan has certainly changed over the decades. If you ever used a “tanning lotion” you probably recall the little girl on the Coppertone ads with her bottom exposed when her little puppy tugged at her swimsuit bottom. That “tan line” promoted a healthy golden tan which is achieved by using a suntan lotion. Today, that company will never promote getting a tan, nor will any other like them.
We even used reflectors under our chins to direct the sun’s rays to our neck, effectively intensifying the damage, or as we believed then, the tan. Suntan lotions with protection levels of SPF 4 or 6 were used in the belief that the burning rays would be blocked while the tanning rays were let through to do their magic browning. Tan meant healthy, vibrant, lively, beautiful, and sexy.
How times have changed! We know now that we cannot get a so-called “healthy tan.” Once seen as a method of controlling a tan, low SPF lotions have fallen out of favor by skin care professionals as well as the Skin Cancer Foundation. The new lotions are referred to as “sunscreens” or “sunblocks” and are formulated to do just that – screen and block the sun’s rays.
We now know that we must start each day with the application of a skin protection lotion. Using an SPF of 15 generally means that your skin is protected for 15 times the amount of time than if your skin was bare. Don’t use that calculation too literally. Just know that the higher the number, the greater the time of protection.
Most dermatologists and estheticians recommend a daily application of SPF 15 or higher at least 15 to 20 minutes before being exposed to the sun. If you are at the beach or participating in sports, use a higher SPF that is water-resistant and reapply the sunscreen in 30 minutes, then again every 2 hours and each time after swimming or perspiring.
Skin care product lines now feature many moisturizers that have built in SPF 15 or higher. This makes your morning regimen easier. You’re much less likely to skip applying sun protection when it’s in your routine skin care each morning.
Many women who wear foundation each day can simplify their morning regimen of skin care by applying foundation that contains SPF protection. There are liquid as well as mineral, or powder, foundations that contain a good measure of SPF protection. If you don’t want to add another step to your morning skin routine, this may be a good option for you.
Decades ago, we all thought that “safe tanning” was something we could and should achieve. Coppertone has long ago removed the “tan line” from the advertisement and now promotes total protection from the sun’s rays with the use of sunscreens and sunblocks. They, like the rest of us, know now that damage to the skin occurs when the skin is exposed to the sun’s rays, and there is no such thing as “safe tanning.”
Protect your skin daily from the seen and unseen damage of the sun. Safely frolic at the beach, the park, the ballgame, or wherever you want to enjoy the great outdoors. See your skin care specialist for a personal recommendation based on your skin type and exposure. Don’t go unprotected. It’s not only your skin that you’re protecting… it’s your health.
Good skin health starts with professional skin care. Charlotte Field is a Skin Care Specialist offering Facials in Pensacola, FL. She specializes in Anti-aging, Relaxation and Results. Learn more about Charlotte’s professional spa treatments at FacialsbyCharlotte.com.