As summer is approaching and the heat is rising, our skin begins to take in the warmth of the beautiful rays of light (literally). After spending days at the beach and playing sports out in the sun, our skin tends to become a little darker, which is also known as the process of “tanning”. But how does this phenomenon even work? And even though some people love tanning, can it be harmful for your skin? Go put on some sunscreen and let’s find out!!
Before we get into that, there is a very important differentiation we must make:
Sunburns vs. Sun tan
Sunburns are caused by excessive UV radiation damage leading to immediate skin damage and visible symptoms like redness, pain, and sometimes blisters. They are usually more visible on paler-skinned people as well, making them extra sensitive to prolonged exposure to high levels of sunlight.
A sun tan on the other hand is a protective response where the skin produces more melanin to shield deeper skin layers from further UV damage.
How does a sun tan happen?
The sun’s rays emit two different types of radiation, UVB radiation and UVA radiation. UVB radiation is what causes sunburns while UVA radiation is what causes tanning to happen. The UVA rays penetrate to deeper levels in your skin (like the epidermis for example) where they trigger cells called, “Melanocytes” which then produce melanin. “Melanin” is basically the pigment in our skin that makes us appear lighter or darker, as in having more melanin would make you darker and vice versa. Melanin is basically a bodyguard for your skin, as it protects your skin from burning. This all may seem great, but there are also significant downsides to tanning that you must keep in mind as well.
Downsides of tanning?
Because the UVA rays penetrate much deeper into your skin than the UVB rays that cause sunburns, they are closer to all the more important parts of your body, such as how, for example, they almost reach your blood vessels. Exposure to large amounts of UVA rays have a tendency to damage one’s immune system, making them more susceptible to skin cancers. If these cancers are not treated immediately, they may spread to the rest of your body causing many more health issues.
How does a sunburn happen?
When the sun’s rays emit high levels of UVB radiation, it may damage your skin cells, and the immune system reacts to this by increasing the blood flow levels in those damaged areas. This causes your skin to appear a lot more red and inflamed, therefore creating what we call a sunburn.
To conclude, getting a tan and having fun in the sun is ok especially when it’s so beautiful outside, but you must make sure you’re using the proper protective equipment such as hats and sunscreen to protect your skin and all it does for you!
Have fun! 🙂
Sources:
https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/tanning.html