Suntanning - Beneficial or not?

Questions like, ...Is any sun tan at all healthy for you? Can you get skin cancer from tanning? Should I use sunscreen or sun protective clothing?

I hope to change the way a large majority of you think about suntanning.

No matter if you're ...for getting a sun tan ...or totally against it ...I hope I can make you see it differently!

Is any sun tan, at all, healthy for you?

The practice of suntanning is usually done to attain a healthy looking skin, in turn looking more attractive.

Isn't that true?

It's also true that this practice, more often than not, does result in a person getting skin cancer from tanning.

It could occur at a young age, as melanoma often does, or it may not show up until later on in life, usually starting around age 40. Forty to fifty is an average age, but it could occur anytime.

There are a number of factors that could explain why this happens and one of the important ones is the amount of time exposed when suntanning and the frequency of exposure.

Perhaps I should say OVERexposure!

The strength of your immune system and general condition of your health, which many overlook, is a bigger consideration than most people think. Overlooking your health can lead to a weak immune system and health problems in the young and old alike. Skin cancer can be triggered more easily in such people.

Yet, a sun tan can serve as a healthy thing for you. The sun is our best source of vitamin D which I would wager to say is lacking in most people.

So, spending limited time in the sun could help your body to manufacture vitamin D which can strengthen your immune system and help prevent disease, such as cancer, including skin cancer.

Using sun safety and awareness is highly important here.

Look at the following videos but note that they take a firm, one-sided view, suggesting that one should not love the sun and there is nothing healthy about any amount of tanning for anyone. Yet it's good advice to those who ignore moderation and the dangers of overexposure to UV rays.

See - There's Nothing Healthy About a Tan

See - Love The Sun? Take a Look Into Your Future

If you do take these strong views, that's OK, I'm not trying to sway you one way or another, just being fair and showing you both sides. If you must avoid the sun, and some do, just be sure to Supplement Your Vitamin D.

Can you get skin cancer from tanning?

Yes, most definitely yes!

I will not say that ANY suntanning is going to give you skin cancer, but I will say that overexpose and accumulative tanning can.

And, at the very least, you are prematurely aging and damaging your skin. Who wants to have wrinkled skin beginning at an early age? ...especially when you have an opportunity to keep your skin looking genuinely healthy.

But far more unwanted than aging early ...is actually getting skin cancer and the possible consequences for the rest of your life. Many do not even survive.

Whether tanning in the open sunshine or doing your suntanning in a poorly equipped tanning bed, which most beds are, ...you CAN get skin cancer! (Chances being higher in the tanning bed)

Should you use sunscreen or protective clothing?

Again, a definite yes!

This requires a little clarification by adding ...`at times`!

The very best source of vitamin D is the sun. The second would be a SAFE tanning bed. There aren't very many available.

Whether you use the sun or a tanning bed the most important thing is to limit your time. ...And that should not be very long!

Never stay in a tanning bed too long. Eleven minutes would be fine and for some, less.

For those at high skin cancer risk, you should avoid it totally.

You definitely want to read Tanning Beds and Skin Cancer and then, Melanoma.

Beyond suntanning for the benefits of your health, you should be using sun protective clothing like wide brim hats and other light clothing that would protect the places most often exposed, like ...neck, face, arms ...legs.

Don't be afraid of the sun!

Everyone likes to spend time at the lake, beach, gardening, your yard or an afternoon at the park.

Just be sure, when in the sun for extended periods of time, consider sun safety and use some form of protection.

This could be a good chemical-free sunscreen or sun protection clothing.

If at the lake or beach you could bring some form of sun shelter like an umbrella or even a sun protection tent.

Make any suntanning experience a beneficial time by your knowledge of the dangers and risks that are REAL!

Without the sun, all life dies!

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