The Secret Benefits of Tanning
Yes, there are benefits of tanning! Some would have you believe that the sun’s UV rays are all bad and never good for you. This is far from the truth. Yes there are dangers, but there definitely are benefits of sunlight when obtained through low to moderate dosages. The Benefits And Dangers Of Sunlight/Sunshine Sunlight or sunshine, whichever way you call it is one of the most useful and helpful elements that nature has provided mankind. Without it, we would experience the ice age once more and swimming would be unheard of. However, just as with any other substance, there are benefits of tanning and dangers as well. It’s A Mix! Not everything about the sun is all good nor is it all bad. A mix exists between the two and it depends on you which one of the two is best for your body. So, here are the things that you should know about the benefits and dangers. The Good Side Despite what you may have been led to believe regarding tanning, getting an adequate dose of responsible sun bathing could make you healthier and happier. Consider the sun as your friend. Do this by using it responsibly. This could be very beneficial, just as long as you avoid the damaging effects of having chronic exposure. Taking It In Small Doses Be sure that you understand that there are risks of getting skin cancer versus your sunlight needs. Obviously, getting burned is not right. Neither is looking directly into the sun. However, getting a small dose of daily sunshine on your skin and indirectly in your eyes is actually essential for having good health and clear eyesight. As a general rule of thumb, burning or skin peeling is bad and means you over indulged. In order to see the benefits of tanning you must avoid burning and skin peeling as much as possible. You don’t have to take my word for it, watch Dr. Joseph Mercola in the video clip below. New Findings And Old Facts There have been new findings suggesting one of the benefits of tanning is that sunshine could reduce the risks of various forms of cancer such as breast, prostrate, ovarian, and colon cancer. UV rays are actually your main Vitamin D source and sunlight is the most effective and usable form of vitamin D. This vitamin’s major biological function is to maintain your normal blood levels of phosphorus and calcium. And as you know, calcium is vital for having good bone health. It is also a vasodilator, which means it helps in increasing the level of oxygen that your blood moves around your body. As this happens, you get to have a boost in your energy levels. Your mental faculties also sharpen and you can experience an enhanced sense of feeling good about yourself. Additionally, safe sunbathing can also improve conditions like eczema, acne, and psoriasis. On The Bad Side However, the bad side of sunlight is acquired if you get too much of it. Unsafe exposure also plays a role in developing certain conditions that are not so favorable as we discussed previously. Let’s take a further look. Burning And Cell Death Basically, sun burning is a very obvious effect of UVB rays to our skin and should be considered the number one danger. Nevertheless, you won’t burn by exposing yourself to the sun for just a split second. This only happens when you get over exposed, just like when food is subjected into too much heat. This is mainly due to your immune cells on your skin that produce histamine, which causes dilation of your blood vessels. This can also give you symptoms of some kind of acute inflammation. Your skin cells also become injured to the extent that they flake off because of death. General rules of safe tanning*: Start with only a few minutes, it is recommended usually to keep it less than what the tanning salons recommend. The main purpose should be to obtain the benefits of tanning without over doing it. This means that your goal should not be to get dark but instead to get a little color while maximizing the benefits of tanning. • Do not go more than once every other day (about 2-3 days a week would be appropriate) Remember: The point is not to get dark, but to gain some color while receiving the benefits of sunlight. Use good judgment and you’ll be obtaining the benefits of tanning in no time! * Times listed above are examples only and should not be construed as medical advice. Please talk to a knowledgeable doctor or dermatologist before starting a safe tanning program.
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