To tan or not to tan

To tan or not to tan? That is the question...

But is there a safe way to get that healthy glow? We all love to go on holiday somewhere warm and sunny and soak up the sun, lying by the pool all day, coming home with a beautiful tan. It makes us feel happy and healthy and can even make us look slimmer.

But did you know that:
* 67,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year of which more than 6,000 are malignant melanoma
* More women are diagnosed with melanoma but more men die from the disease (because it is often detected later).
* In the UK almost 2,000 people die from skin cancer each year
* Malignant melanoma is now the most common cancer in young adults aged between 15 and 34 and can be fatal.
* Synthetic tops such as football tops etc offer little or no protection

These are horrifying facts, so what should we do to stay safe in the sun?

When it comes to skin protection, the golden rule is to stay in the shade between 12 and 3pm. And generally, the fairer you are, the more prone you are to sun damage. So if you're a redhead, sunblock is a good idea. But if you're dark skinned (like me), you'll still need some protection like factor 15. Yes - that's 15 (not 2 or even 8).

Wearing an SPF factor 20 means that you can stay in the sun 20 times longer without burning. But remember even if you reapply after swimming for instance, the length you are protected from the sun remains the same. Apply a generous amount everywhere, including your ears, feet, neck and scalp. And don't keep products for years as they may become less effective.

But where the kids are concerned, getting sunburnt as a child can double your chances of getting skin cancer later in life. So as parents you must look out for your kids. Use lots of sunblock, reapply regularly and never ever let them burn.

OK, I can hear you thinking, I'll just have a few sunbeds instead. I've always been told they are less harmful and can protect you from burning when you go on holiday.
WRONG!

Sorry, but sunbeds are equally bad, if not worse.
Here are some more facts:
* They can cause premature skin ageing, or photoageing, caused by exposure to UVR
* Just like the sun, they can still cause skin cancer, including malignant melanoma
* They can cause cataracts, and damage to the cornea
* They can weaken the immune system
* A few people may experience excessive sensitivity to ultraviolet light

Some people should never use sunbeds, including those with very fair skin, anyone who has had any form of skin cancer, anyone under 16 years of age (or even 18), anyone with freckles or moles and anyone taking medication that could make them sensitive to UVR.

So it looks like there is only one answer - yes, fake it! How? Well, there are so many products on the market, we are spoilt for choice.

Firstly, you can have an all over salon spray which will set you back around £25 and last approximately a week depending on skin type. Great for a party or special occasion or before your holiday but hard to keep up long term unless you have the time and money. Alternatively, you can buy your own home spraying kit (I was given one for Christmas the year before last), BUT they are not easy to use evenly, impossible to do your back without help and take ages to dry (so you have to walk round the house in your underwear for an hour - very hard to do on Christmas Day when the family are coming to lunch ..... say no more).

Secondly, there are so many self tanners on the market I hardly know where to start. St Tropez is one of the best known and looks great, though some claim they don't like the final colour. It costs around £26.50. Personally, I like L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Spray and Dry Mist spray for the face neither of which should set you back more than £10.

Thirdly, however, and increasingly popular are the ones which build up gradually. These are really great, especially in the winter, when you don't want to look too fake, and because you apply them over a period of time you can stop when you are happy with the colour or keep applying. Johnson's Holiday Sun is probably my favourite, but there are lots of others like Dove Summer Glow and Nivea Body Sunkissed Skin. And what's more, they cost so little - many supermarkets have them on offer at two for one or half price. The only drawback is that you won't end up really dark if that's what you want. As a bonus though, they give great moisturisation.

Finally, some top tips to follow before you fake it:
* De-fuzz your legs 24 hours before
* Exfoliate then moisturise - particularly on elbows, knees and heels
* Start at your feet and work upwards
* Wash palms of hands after use (or they'll end up orange)
* Apply an extra layer to any cellulite and stretchmarks

So that's it! Fake it! And we promise we won't tell....

Veronika
Health & Beauty Editor

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