Don't get browned off on holiday - too much sun is more dangerous than crime and terrorists. Follow our handy tips for that perfect safe suntan.
Fancy
an all over natural beach bronzed glow this summer? Read
on and follow our handy guide to a perfect safe tan.
Your
bags are packed and you're ready to jet off to that fab holiday
destination. O.k. there's a tingling of excitement mixed with a
teeny bit of worry - what are the risks - flying, terrorists, crime,
tummy upsets? Yup, these are all possibilities but so are
they if you stay at home. So that's not going to freak you
out. The difference in surroundings, lifestyle, food,
climate is what it's all about. Sunbathing, swimming,
meeting new people are all part of it. The little frisson of
danger is what we all secretly like. But there's more
than a little trouble waiting for you and it's so
low-key and insidious that you don't know how much it's going
to hurt you. It's what you possibly won't be focusing
on that is the real menace when you go abroad.
A great, healthy looking
golden tan
The biggest danger of all is from the sun. Yes I
know those idyllic pics in the travel brochures are fixed in your
mind. Isn't two weeks lying by the pool or on the beach what it's
all about? Your towel on the sun lounger, a
leisurely chilled beer from the poolside bar, your
new swimwear and you're going to be have a great, healthy
looking golden tan before you come home. The long
slow drinks and the attentive waiters ... yes please.... but lying
in the sun all day? You won't know it right off - but
this is a tourist trap you're going to fall right in, bronzed
skin first.
Sun-tanning is a definite risk
Do you know how many cases of skin cancer there were last year in
the U.K? Alright, I'll tell you. There were
60,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and 7,000 new cases of
melanoma (which are the most deadly). Every year around
1,600 people will die from this. These cases have doubled in the
past 20 years and it's the fastest growing form of cancer.
The reason? Foreign holidays. Not that there's
anything wrong with travelling to the world's hotspots - if
you know what the dangers are - but the days of toasting to a
deep bronze have to go. We know better now. Exposure to the
sun can be deadly and tour operators are being criticised for
not providing enough warning and advice. A gentle warning
isn't enough.
Who is most at risk?
Children are obviously at risk, they have young tender skins that
burn easily. Anyone with a fair complexion, who has
freckles or who know that they'll soon change
colour - redheads for example. If you have a large
number of moles you are one of the folk who really have to be
careful. Anyone who has already had sunburn, even if it's a
long time previously, must take extra care to stay out of the
midday sun.
Tanning is trouble
It's difficult for health officials to get the message
through. People go on holiday wanting to get a tan. It does
look good. Why do we associate a glowing tan with health and
beauty? That's the message it gives out - look at me, I'm
feeling great! But the long term damage is
irreversible. Most of us do accept that UV rays from
the sun are dangerous - but because it doesn't happen straight away and
we've put on loads of sunscreen, we think it'll all be alright.
Take it easy
The only way to protect yourself is to stay out of the sun at the
hottest part of the day - between 11.0am and 3.0pm. Wear a
floppy hat to keep the rays away from your face and neck - if you don't
then no amount of skin products will stop you wrinkling like an old
prune twenty or so years down the line. You need to
use a high factor protective sunscreen and apply it often - be careful
not to miss any bits like the back of your knees or your inner
arms. Don't forget you can burn in the water just as
easily. And cover up for that boat trip or the saunter
off to the hippy market - you won't only sizzle on the
beach. Take it easy and build your tan up
slowly. Aim for just a gentle touch of colour - a bit of sunlight
is definitely good for you and a light golden glow looks
heavenly - just remember that a burnt offering looks like hell.
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