Summer is here and in full force! We all want to look our best as we shed our layers of clothes. Some of my friends fear the pasty, glaringly white skin that has been hidden for so long in the winter months. The temptation to tan creeps up. Of course, you already know what I tell them.  Fear not! I have a solution to your desire to tan, that has plenty of benefits for your skin and your health!

Traditional tanning, whether in the sunshine or in a bed, relies on UV rays to change the color pigmentation of your skin. UVA rays are what make your skin tan. They penetrate the lower levels of your skin to activate melanocytes which are cells in your skin that produce melanin. Melanin is the brown pigment in your skin that makes it look tan! UVB rays are a different type of ray from the sun, these rays actually burn the top layers of the skin. This is what causes a sunburn.

Even though it seems like UVA rays would be the better rays, because they are associated with tanning, they do have a huge downside. Because UVA rays reach the lower layers of your skin, they are penetrating deeper than UVB rays. This means that they are able to shoot through the skin’s epidermis, which is the top protective layer, and straight through to the dermis which is where your blood vessels and nerves are. This means that UVA rays also contribute heavily to skin aging. That’s right! They can penetrate glass!! UVB rays aren’t completely innocent either! They can cause basal and squamous cell carcinoma. This is why I wear sunscreen everyday, all year, even at home. No one has time for wrinkles or skin cancer.

Tanning beds have been called sun-beds for a reason, they often emit 12 times the UVA that the sun emits! This is what makes them so dangerous! Also, this contributes to why those who use tanning beds are at such a higher chance of developing skin cancer. Tanning beds are considered so dangerous, in fact, that there is a proposal from the FDA to strictly disallow individuals under the age of 18 to use tanning beds. There are also extensive warning stickers on any tanning product, which is usually a sign that something is fairly dangerous!

Spray tanning, however, has none of these risks. Yaaaaaasssssss. Fake tans are the best tans. That is the number one benefit to spray tanning. You can achieve the nice pigmentation that you are looking for, without the risk of skin cancer or other life threatening problem in as little as 15 minutes!

Get your glow on this summer, in a safe way, by giving the spray tanning booth a try.

Grab Dr. Candrice’s audio guide for expert secrets to achieving flawless and healthy skin.  

Don’t forget to connect with me, Dr. Candrice, your favorite, fun, board-certified dermatologist, your go-to girl for everything healthy hair, skin and nails.

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