Teen Health Issues

Many teenagers are obsessed with the bronze look. “Younger, sexier, slimmer” – is the message a tanned complexion is supposed to send out. It is practiced exclusively for cosmetic reasons. Too often and too intense tanning is risky.

If you are going for it, make sure:

• Gradual and moderate indoor tanning session
• Using proper sunscreen indoor and outdoor

Are teens actually complying to these conditions?

Why tanning booths, sun lamps are risky?

Use of tanning booths is dangerous during teen-age years because teens are still experiencing tremendous growth at the cellular level. These skin cells are dividing more rapidly during teen years than during adulthood, making exposure to UV even more detrimental.

In addition, it is a known fact that the number of times a kid is burnt by UV rays, either from the sun or artificial tanning, the child’s risk of developing melanoma increases.

Exposure to these booths can cause cataract or eye damage and premature ageing of the skin. Many a times, the size of the skin exposed in modern tanning beds is often times much greater than the area exposed in outdoor tanning situations.

Then, what’s the option out if I want that bronze glow?

Sunless self-tanners.

With increased awareness of the dangers of tanning booths, sunless tanning product popularity is growing tremendously.

Many products are now available to use both at home and in the salon. Sunless tanning lotions contain di-hydroxyaceton (DHA), which is a colourless sugar that interacts with dead surface cells in the epidermis and stains the skin darker. This effect is temporary and as the dead cells naturally wear off, the colour fades as well. Typically, these “fake bakes” last from several days to a week.

Options include sprays, lotions, and towelettes, and they’re easy to use.

Airbrush tanning:

You might also check out salons that offer airbrush tanning. Airbrush tans look more like a natural tan. In this, a beautician will hook up a DHA solution on to a spray compressor, and spray the tan onto you. Your eyes, lips, and nose will be covered to protect them during the process. A few hours after the application, you’ll start noticing your new, safe tan.

With both self-tanners and airbrush tanning, you’ll get better results if you exfoliate your skin with a scrub brush before the tanner is applied. This evens your skin tone and removes dead skin cells.

A word of precaution:

With both types of sunless tanning, you’ll need to wear sunscreen when you go outdoors to protect you from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Artificial tans don’t produce melanin, you won’t be protected against sunburn. So, take care…