The Importance of the "Base Tan"

With summer approaching, you may have heard of people talking about getting a "base tan". So, just what is this "base tan" anyway? A base tan, simply put, is the gradual process by which the skin naturally develops color (by moderated indoor or outdoor UV exposure) from melanin production. 
The reason a base tan is so important is because it helps prevent sun damage (i.e sun burning of the skin) from a sudden onslaught of UV exposure. In other words, if you head to the beach without any previous sun exposure and spend the entire day in the sun, even with sunscreen, there is a significant chance you will be burnt to a crisp by the end of the day. 


For those of you that are part of the 40+ crowd, you may remember that, as recently as the 80's, the traditional "rite of passage" to every summer was to burn yourself and then tan from there out. We now know that that particular practice is responsible for a great deal of the current number of skin cancer cases.
A tan is your body's natural protection against sunburn. Your body is built to tan as a natural body function....otherwise we wouldn't be able to do it!


The easiest and safest way to achieve a base tan is to visit a Smart Tan Certified Tanning Salon where the employees are specifically trained to help you gradually achieve a healthy base tan based on your skin type and your summer plans. 


When you are planning on spending a day at the beach, a base tan is still not an excuse to avoid sunscreen. Extended periods of outdoor UV exposure still require a sunscreen. The benefit of getting a base tan first is that you can use a lower SPF (between 8 and 15) which will protect your skin while still allowing you to get a tan and you can avoid the higher level SPF's (15 and up) as new studies are popping up left and right that show the amount of chemicals in higher level SPF's are possibly more dangerous than UV light exposure.


So, to sum up, before you head out to the beach or even your patio deck this summer to soak in some rays, visit a Smart Tan Certified Tanning Salon and talk with the employees about what they can do to help you achieve a healthy an safe base tan. Then, get your summer started!