Since your goal is to tan but not burn, take a couple of minutes to figure out your sun risk factor.
First, determine what kind of skin you have. People with fair skin and light-colored eyes have to take extra precautions not to get burned. (Most fair people can burn within 15 minutes.) The darker you are, the more exposure to the sun you can handle without getting burned.
Next, figure out how close you live to the equator. Don't worry; you don't have to figure it out to the precise latitude and longitude--just know the rule of thumb that, the closer you live to the equator, the more likely you are to get sunburned.
Take care while vacationing at high altitudes. UV radiation increases about 5 percent for every 1,000 feet you go above sea level.
Make a list of all the drugs you're taking. Most medications contain chemicals that cause the skin to be more reflective of UV rays. For example, antibiotics, antihistamines, oral contraceptives, tricyclic antidepressants and most acne medications will cause your skin to burn rather than tan. If you think some medication you are taking may fall into one of these categories, use a sunscreen with a higher SPF. It's the safe and prudent thing to do.
on 9/4/2009
Question: If I get the same amount of color if I sun for 2 hours starting at 10am, compared to 1 hour starting at noon, does it matter when I go? Is one less harmful to my health?
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Comments
scottkyu said
on 9/4/2009 Question: If I get the same amount of color if I sun for 2 hours starting at 10am, compared to 1 hour starting at noon, does it matter when I go? Is one less harmful to my health?
johnsonlove said
on 7/29/2009 this was a very informative article, and definitely helped me with a few of the answers i was looking for.