CORE Training - SunTan Science: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly!

[webmaster]

Tan skin accentuates the physique, highlighting lines and definition. Unfortunately the sun will also hasten damage to the skin. This article will show you that there is a way to get that sexy tan (plus all the health benefits) and minimize the damage.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/core_may_8.htm

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[Miranda]

umm . . . there are actually 3 types of UV rays; UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC doesn't reach the surface of the earth. UVA has the longest wavelength and penetrates clouds and glass and doesn't cause sunburn. most of UVB is filtered by clouds and glass and causes sunburn. both cause cell damage which over the long haul can cause skin cancer. the factor on the bottle refers to UVB, not UVA, so always be sure you use a broad spectrum sunscreen. skin cancer is the fastest growing cancer in the world so i find it strange somebody would encourage people to risk a 'benign' skin cancer because of the benefits of the sun.

While it is excellent to inform the crowd about the dangers of the sun I believe it is important that someone with a minimum of knowledge is presenting the information. The article is packed with mistakes and the good advice present are swamped by the fact that the writer is obviously not an expert on the risk of sun exposure. It would be exhausting to list all of the errors but let me emphasize that UVA does NOT cause sunburns while UVB does. The information about sunscreen is also misleading. Although there may be toxic products out there the old-fashion physical filters (Ti:Ox) are harmless and give good (UVB) protection. UVA partially penetrates these filters and are believed to be involved in the development of aggressive skin-cancer (as in moles) - however there is far more indications that severe sunburns are the main tricker. Protection against UVB is therefore a must. Best bet is to stay out of the sun though......

Yep, I also noticed the errors - it's UVB that causes burning, UVA that goes deeper into the dermis and causes more damage to the skin's structure. Tanning beds use more UVA, which is why people who can't normally tan in the sun DO manage to get colour in the beds, but - unfortunately - risk doing more damage. Of course UVC also exists, but our ozone filters most of that out.

Most of the sun's benefits are attributable to Vitamin D, which CAN be easily obtained with D3 supplements. Nowadays they are available in varying amounts (400 to 1,000 IUs, plus most multivitamins have 400 IUs ... if you aim to get 800 to 1200 IUs daily, that's considered a "safe" limit at this time for supplementation. Ensure it's D3 and NOT D2 you're taking ...).

That said, current research appears to suggest that there ARE some additional benefits to UV beyond vitamin D. But these are obtainable with minimal exposure (5-15 mins. 3x/week for the average type II or III person). Realize that tanning can accelerate sagging and thinning of the skin, and - of course - speeds up wrinkling. Another surprisingly unfortunate effect of tanned skin is that it actually calls attention to unsightly dimples & ripples, much in the same way it accentuates muscle tone.

If you choose to tan for health benefits, then keep exposures brief and offset some of the damage with a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, healthy omega 3 oils & monosaturated fats, lean protein and whole grains. Applying topical products that feature green tea and other potent antioxidants can also help minimize damage.

Hope this helps someone ...