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Beach tanning

Beach tanning is one of the most popular pastimes people indulge in every year when the weather gets warmer. As fun as this activity can be, it is important to know the risks involved with tanning and how to protect your skin and your health the next time you plan on going out in the sun.

Many people choose to tan on a beach as a fun and easy way to obtain a natural tan. While there are a good number of folks that head to the local tanning salon to handle their tanning needs, there are others that prefer the outdoors experience. However, there is a right and wrong way to approach tanning.

The sun's ultraviolet rays not only work to darken the skin naturally, giving the desired tanning effect, they can also do great damage if the skin is unprotected. Unfortunately, some people believe that if they wear sun care products such as sunscreen, they won't get a good tan. As a result of this, some beach goers pursue their tan without putting anything on their skin to ward off the UV rays. This is one way to put yourself at risk for sunburn and increase the odds of developing skin cancer.

It is vital that anytime you plan on going beach tanning, you play it safe by wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen. You'll still be able to get your perfect tan, but without causing harm to your skin and health. Remember to reapply your sunscreen every two hours that you plan on laying under the sun. If you plan on tanning with friends or family, be sure they are aware of the risks as well and make sure everyone is properly protected from ultraviolet rays. There's nothing wrong with wanting to go to the beach to get your tan but the last thing you want to do is practice bad habits and take chances with your health.