No, we’re not talking about that easy to spot orange look screams tanning salon as you walk around in November. What we mean is a real tan that emits a healthy aura from your skin. A real tan makes you look vibrant and younger. Real tans also take work, however, even though that may sound a bit odd at first brush.
Getting a real tan can take hours and hours of outdoor tanning. You may not have that kind of time, and you may not want to sit under powerful UV rays for hours each day to get the tan you crave. We’ve learned, over the years, that prolonged exposure to the sun can negatively impact your health, so how can you maximize your exposure time for maximum tanning effect? There’s no escaping it, you’re going to need the sun. Managing it with your health in mind is key. Here are some things you can do to nail that tan you’ve always wanted.
Change Positions Often
We all know the feeling of staying in one position for too long in the sun. You get that “overcooked” sensation that lets you know you’re going to be in pain the next morning. To get a nice, even tan, you should change positions frequently when you are laying out in the sun. You’ll avoid sunburns and make sure you don’t miss any spots.
Use High-Quality Sunscreen
This tip requires a bit of experimenting because the type and strength of the sunscreen you use will depend on your skin type and how easily you burn. A good rule of thumb for getting a real tan is to start with SPF 30 and go from there. If you’re getting more burnt than you’d like, then you can go with something a bit stronger and keep moving up until you’ve found the sweet spot where you tan but don’t burn. Likewise, if SPF 30 is making it hard for you to brown at all, then go with something lighter until the sun can get through.
Don’t Overstay Outdoors
Most people don’t realize this, but your skin can only create melanin for a certain amount of time. For most people, this is around two to three hours each day. After that, your body stops producing melanin and that means there’s no point in staying out any longer. Melanin is what’s responsible for the change in your skin tone. If you stay long past the point your body produces melanin, then there’s no point anymore. All you’re doing is increasing sun exposure and potentially harming your skin.
You also want to start tanning progressively. That will help you avoid getting too dark too quickly if you only want a mild tan. Start with short windows and work your way up to best manage how quickly you tan.
Peptide Research and Possible Melanin Regulation
In clinical research done on rodents, the peptide Melanotan 2 https://www.peptidesciences.com/melanotan-2-10mg produced results that indicate it promotes the tanning of skin or skin pigmentation. Originally developed in the 1980s at the University of Arizona, Melanotan 2, or MT-2, is a synthetic version of the human alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. In tests done on rodents, it darkened the skin and was designed as a sunless tanning option. More research needs to be done on this peptide. Melanotan 2 is not yet FDA approved for human use.
Optimize When You Tan
Not all times of day are created equally when it comes to getting the best sun exposure. Although it varies depending on your location, the sun is typically the strongest between 12 pm and 3 pm. If you’re out to get a real tan, then you want to make sure that you’re getting good exposure in that window. Remember, however, that the strongest sun also means that potentially harmful UV rays are at their peak. If you’ve got fair skin or a history of medical issues, then you may want to avoid the middle of the afternoon and tan in the mornings instead.
Choose Quality Tanning Oils
People with amazing tans swear by high-quality tanning oils. There are even some oils with natural SPF in them like raspberry oil or avocado oil. So does coconut oil, possibly the most popular type of tanning oil on the market. Oils offer a protective layer on your skin that maintains a high level of moisturization while also allowing the sun to tan your skin. You get a nice, even tan that looks great for weeks.
The best thing you can do to get a real tan is to stay consistent with when and how you tan. Doing it sporadically will just end up with you getting burnt and ill-prepared for beach season. Instead, make tanning a daily habit if possible. Now, with so much working from home and remote learning going on, tanning in the middle of the afternoon is no longer a crazy idea. If possible, take that 2 pm conference call on your deck as you soak in some rays.
