UV Rays & Acne
Using tanning beds and lying on the beach may reduce the appearance of acne and give you a nice tan, but the cons of exposure to UV rays outweigh the pros.
-
Acne
-
Acne is more than a zit or blemish. Acne is clogged skin pores. Bacteria and dirt get inside pores, causing inflammation and irritation.
Misconceptions
-
Tanning causes your skin to be drier and helps eliminate redness, so tanning may temporarily relieve acne problems. However, there can be consequences to maintaining a tan, so other acne treatments may be more appropriate.
-
Considerations
-
Individuals who taking acne medications may have skin that is more sensitive to UV light, according to the HealthCentral website. Exfoliating acne medicines increase the rate of shedding dead skin cells, which in turn makes the skin more vulnerable to UV rays.
Consequences
-
Overtanning can irritate the skin, especially if you accidently burn, making acne more noticeable. According to HealthCentral, the breakdown of collagen caused by tanning may cause pores to look larger and blemishes more apparent. If you suffer from sun damage caused by tanning, your skin will thicken, which makes it more difficult to clear up acne.
Risk
-
Excessive exposure to UV light has a direct correlation with skin cancer, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Alternative
-
Blue light therapy, which has no UV light, kills bacteria in the pores by using nonharmful light wavelengths.
-
