How long should i layout to get a tan

Or perhaps it's the middle of January, but you want to be lightly tanned for your wedding? Whatever the reason, having a great tan makes you feel good and look vibrant and healthy. But it's important to also get a tan as safely as possible --UV rays from natural and artificial light are damaging to our skin and can cause deadly cancer. Here you'll learn how to get a great tan outside and in tanning beds with an eye to reducing harm, and how to get that coveted glow — without the risk — by using self-tanners and getting spray tans.

To get a proper tan outdoors, spend hours in the sun for your first day. Then, gradually increase your sun exposure to protect you from burning. Make sure you use sunscreen of SPF , which will protect your skin and help you tan gradually. In addition to exfoliating, make sure you moisturize at least once a day, which will keep your skin from drying out and burning. For more tips, including how to bronze in a tanning bed, read on!

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Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. Increase your sun exposure gradually.

First and foremost, when you begin laying out in the sun, only get hours of exposure at a time. Skip a day or two before laying out again. Melanin, the pigment in your body that colors your skin, is activated when UVA and UVB rays from the sun hit your skin. When this happens, more melanin is produced as a form of sun block, or protection from sun damage. In this process your skin gets darker, producing a tan. Getting just one blistering sunburn while growing up doubles a person's chances of getting melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

And a person's risk of melanoma also doubles by getting more than five normal sunburns throughout their life. To maintain your tan, continue to regularly lay out and follow the steps discussed below. Exfoliate regularly while tanning. When exfoliating, use a loofah, a sponge or a fine-grade exfoliating bar of soap and scrub lightly all over your body while in the shower or bath. Apply a moisturizer after you dry off.

If you shower after going to the pool, for instance, exfoliate the next morning when you bathe. Twice a week is sufficient. Much more will strip away natural oils, leaving your skin overly dry. Use sunscreen. Applying sunscreen before stretching out on your beach towel might sound counterproductive, but using sunscreen will let you tan more gradually and, therefore, make your tan last longer.

About minutes before you get in the sun, apply a sunscreen of SPF when you first start tanning. The SPF factor you use depends on your skin type, or how easily you burn. If you plan to get in the water, make sure you use a water-proof sunscreen, or reapply it after you get out.

Using sunscreen is also beneficial because it will keep you from burning, which can cause serious damage to your skin not to mention cancer and almost always results in peeling and flaking.

If this happens, you have to start all over again. Protect your eyes. Your eyes can get burned, too, causing serious and lasting damage. Switch positions when laying out. Flip from your front to your back regularly so you get an even tan. When tanning your back, lay your arms palm-side up and vice versa.

Remember, a gradual tan is a lasting tan. So, switch sides every minutes. You'll also want to raise your arms above your head off and on to tan the undersides of your arms and your armpits. Moisturize at least once every day. Moisturizing your skin may be one of the most crucial elements of getting and extending the life of your tan because it keeps your skin from drying out, which is intensified by UV rays. Moisturize more than once per day, especially before you go to sleep and after showering.

Apply a lighter moisturizer to the majority of your body during the day, and lather on a thick moisturizer before bed and on those body parts that move and bend a lot, such as your hands, elbows, ankles, knees and feet. Stay hydrated. It also helps your body get rid of toxins, which will make your skin healthier and help your tan stick around longer.

One way to do this is by staying hydrated from the inside. A suntan is not the time for instant gratification. If you need to have a tan yesterday, thank the baby Jesus for sunless tanning lotion. Don't trick yourself into thinking an initial burn will fade into golden glory. It will fade into prematurely aged skin and wrinkles. Please trust us. Go slow. Sun exposure before 10am or after 4pm is not as damaging to the skin.

Think of the slow and steady acquisition of your sun tan as your Vitamin D happy hour. Gently slough off old skin cells and make way for a healthy tan with a weekly exfoliating scrub. And moisturize like your life depends on it. Apply lotion each morning and evening to keep skin nourished.

Along with quenching your skin, you need to quench your thirst. If you need another stat to help you stick to the sunscreen, know that getting five or more bad sunburns in early life doubles your chances of developing melanoma the deadliest type of skin cancer. Give your body a good exfoliation before putting on sunscreen, as this will help unclog your pores and slough away dead skin cells, making for a more even tan.

In dermatology, we characterize skin type and the risk of sunburn and skin cancer using the Fitzpatrick skin scale. The Fitzpatrick scale divides skin tone into six levels, ranging from ivory to dark brown.

The scale is meant to inform how easily a given skin tone burns in the sun. While it may be interesting to see where you fall on the Fitzpatrick scale, sun exposure causes damage and increases the risk of cancer for all skin tones.

So what are your other options? Spending just 20 minutes on a sunbed is equivalent to spending several hours in the midday sun without sunscreen. The active ingredient in these lotions and sprays — dihydroxyacetone DHA — reacts and binds with the surface-level cells on your skin, causing them to darken.

However, some oils used in sunscreen can cause self-tans to fade faster, so look for an oil-free sunscreen if you want to avoid reapplying earlier than necessary. Rating: 4.

Koperska said in a statement shared with Teen Vogue. In addition to consciously limiting your time in the sun, Dr. Koperska shared a few other tips for keeping your skin from turning full tomato this summer: Avoid the sun between 10am and 4pm, keep an eye on the UV index the higher the number, the more likely you are to get burned , and always wear sunscreen.

Be sure to apply your twice when you know you're going to be in the sun: minutes before going outside, and once minutes after the exposure begins. It's also worth keeping in mind that the SPF only does its job if you're applying your sunscreen properly or not using enough.