Skin Tanning

When your natural skin complexion is altered owing to sun exposure and environmental assault we call it skin tanning. The stimulation of melanocytes leads to the accumulation of more melanin in the epidermal and dermal layers giving a pigmented or darker appearance. The harmful UV radiations, when instigating damage to the DNA in the skin cells, activate our body’s own repair system, and as a protective response to it, the melanin accumulation starts happening.

Is tanning a good thing for skin?

Although tanning is accounted as a protective response of the skin and imposes some health benefits, the long-standing tan and frequent exposure to the sun damage the skin and accelerate the visible signs of aging.

How long does it take for the skin to initiate tanning?

According to the global studies, if you are not wearing sunscreen, it takes just 10 minutes for skin to start tanning when exposed to the sun.

Can wearing sunscreen save us from skin tanning?

Sunscreen, which has a sun protection factor can also not save you from tanning completely because long exposure to the sun of over 1 to 2 hours can make your skin tan even with a sunscreen application.

How to treat skin tanning?

As it is said that time is the best healer, a skin tan can get removed on its own when the existing epidermal cells shed and new ones replace them. However, there are several other ways to remove tanning.

• Home remedies – Application of curd , egg , lemon and multani mitti on tanned areas is considered to reduce tan and improve skin discolouration.
• Exfoliation – Scrubbing the skin with potent actives or mechanical scrubbing can also help in reducing the skin tan.
• Aesthetic procedures – treatments like chemical peel , hydra facial, Q-Switch laser, Pico and carbon facials are a few procedures offered in Pachouli for tan removal.
• According to Dr Preeti , Delhi summers are so hot that the sun-kissed selfies should actually be called sun-stressed selfies , damaged with the scorching heat of the blazing sun.

How long does it take to treat Skin Tanning?

It generally takes around 1 to 4 weeks to remove the tanning from the skin. However, the outcome depended on several factors –

• The intensity of the tan
• For how long the skin has been exposed to the UV radiations
• The Fitzpatrick scale the skin falls into, because the fairer skin tones tend to shed the melanin faster as compared to darker skin tones where improvement is slow in comparison.
• Also, if you do not restrict sun exposure while on your journey to reduce tan, the outcome of tan removal is quite uncertain.

UV Type	Skin Layer Affected	Impact on the Skin	Where Can We Get Exposed?
UV-A	The upper dermis to innermost layers of the top layer (epidermis) are affected most by UV-A.	Tanning skin immediately, can cause sunburn and, in the long run, stimulate premature aging, wrinkles, and even cause skin cancer.	Sunlight is the most common source of UV-A radiation, but tanning beds and artificial lights like CFLs and LEDs also emit UV radiation in small amounts.
UV-B	UV-B rays create an impact on the superficial layer of the skin.	Tans skin and can also lead to blistering of the skin and sunburn. UV-B too can cause premature aging and increase the risk of skin cancers.	As with UV-A, UV-B too is most commonly emitted by sunlight, but some fluorescent lamps and mercury lamps emit significant amounts of UV-B radiation.
UV-C	UV-C has the highest energy, but its impact is limited only to the superficial part of the top layer.	Turns skin red and leads to ulceration and severe burns owing to its intensity, further contributing to premature aging and increased risk of skin cancer.	UV-C is absorbed by the ozone layer, so exposure through sunlight is negligible, but germicidal lamps, lasers, and welding torches are significant sources of it.