GETTING the perfect tan isn’t so easy for most people, but there’s a few factors (including your SPF) that you need to consider before you sunbathe.
Be in the know before you get the glow…
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How long does it take for you to tan in sun?
Everyone has different skin which means everyone’s tanning time will be different.
Some people might gain colour from the sunlight in just a few hours, while others may burn if they spend the same amount of time.
Knowing your skin tone is the best way to estimate how long it will take.
According to the website Reference, melanin is the pigment that affects people’s eye and hair colour and it also affects their skin.
People with less melanin have fairer skin which burns more easily and are more likely to burn – they also may struggle to tan at all but it will mean having to tan gradually in short bursts.
Whereas, if you have more melanin in your skin, you can get a darker colour in a matter of minutes/hours.’
It’s important no matter what your skin tone to wear the correct SPF factor for your skin type.
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Can you still tan using SPF50?
It is simple to answer this question: You can still tan using any SPF factor, no matter how old it is.
SPF works by allowing sunscreen to act as a barrier, limiting the amount of UV that gets through your skin. However, this makes it safer to be exposed to sunlight.
An SPF of 30 filters out 96.7 per cent of UV rays, while and SPF of 50 filters out 98 per – there isn’t a sunscreen than can guarantee 100 per cent perfection.
So, basically, no matter which SPF you use, you will tan.
ABC Australia reported that if you don’t have protection for your skin, it will take 10 minutes before you start to feel the burns. However, properly applying factor 50 would increase the burning rate by 50 percent (so 500 min).
Factor 30 would take 30 minutes more (so 300 mins); factor 15 would therefore take 150 minutes to show signs and symptoms of burning.
The SPF doesn’t affect your tanning time or colour gained, it just means you can spend longer in the sun as you have more time before you show signs of burning.
Is it possible to get a tan in a shade?
The professionals at skincancer.org have said while shade is a potentially valuable means of protection from the damaging effects of the sun’s UV (ultraviolet) rays, not all shade is equally protective.
They add that people can still spend long hours in shade, but still get a lot of sunlight and may be at risk for skin damage.
Because UVB rays can penetrate the skin in indirect ways, which is often the most dangerous part of the sun’s rays.
Even if you aren’t directly exposed to the sun, you should still use sunscreen that has an SPF factor.