Tan truths Top dermatology experts caution against the latest tanning trends As a bride-to-be you may be wondering how to get that gorgeous sun-kissed glow for your wedding day. So, we wouldn’t blame you for turning to TikTok where there are tens of thousands of videos sharing the best tanning routines to achieve the ultimate bronzed look. Tan lines are trending, and influencers are encouraging us to make our own sunscreens. But are these top tanning trends as safe as they seem? It’s time to get the facts from the medical professionals. MYTH BUSTING “Tanning is a sign of skin cell DNA damage”, explains Dr Ash Soni, Alumier’s first global key opinion leader and dermatology specialist. “If you have a tan, you might feel like you look healthier, but you should be cautious about this way of thinking. “Tanning damages your skin at the very deepest level, so these latest tanning trends are concerning. Some of my patients tell me their skin looks and feels better after they’ve been in the sun, but this short-term benefit can lead to some very scary long-term issues.” Your skin may look healthy temporarily, complete with that sought after glow, but in the long term the result is sun damage. “When your skin tans or burns, it goes into high-crisis mode,” Dr Ash continues. “Water is forced out and there’s inflammation at a cellular level. This means the skin is forced into repair mode. While blemishes will quickly clear up, the damage that’s being done to cells at the same time actually accelerates acne and scarring, lines, wrinkles, discolouration, large pores and even skin sagging. “When you have a suntan, your skin tone appears more even due to the increased melanin (pigment), which is spread throughout the entire area evening out the colour and making any darkened or discoloured spots less noticeable. When your tan fades however, the skin is left looking uneven as the damaged areas struggle to repair themselves. Post-holiday skin is discoloured, uneven, dry and wrinkly, and your tan has damaged the skin rather than helping it to become healthier.” We have more control over how our skin ages than you might think, up to 90 per cent in fact, so wearing sunscreen 365 days a year is non-negotiable for healthy skin. “People don’t know what their sunscreen can be doing for them”, says Dr Rayhaneh Zahedi, a medical practitioner with special interests in dermatology, aesthetic medicine and women’s health. “We can effectively protect and shield against damaging UVA and UVB rays from the sun, in addition to other environmental factors like pollution and free radical damage.” 78
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