Despite the widespread love of the activity of tanning, the science behind its effects on human skin are still little understood. Science has proven that ultraviolet radiation light from any source can alter the health state of skin cells. This means that tanning in natural light, and in tanning booths, can subject a body to dangerous levels of harmful light exposure.
The controversy in the medical community regarding tanning and skin problems is based on human behaviors and activity. Some medical professionals argue that the sun is not a direct cause of problems like melanoma and other types of skin cancer. They argue that people who tan regularly also use a variety of skin care products. The question is, is it the sun exposure that causes problems, or is it the habitual use of chemical products?
There are Other Ways to Tell When Tanning Becomes Harmful
Cosmetic and plastic surgery professionals like Dr. Usha Rajagopal constantly address the skin problems of people who include regular tanning in their daily routines. While medical issues like skin cancer are a hot topic, other needs are far more common.
These issues encompass areas like skin appearance and healing times. The skin is the largest and most complex organ of the human body. It requires nutrients, hydration, and other types of care unlike all other organs. It is constantly exposed to natural elements, and will adapt to weather them. For people who constantly tan under natural and tanning bed lights, skin reactions can indicate when it is time to scale the tanning regimen back.
Wrinkling is a common skin problem faced by people who love to tan regularly. Human skin needs a certain amount of water to heal on the cellular level. Constant tanning siphons water from all layers of the skin. This causes waste materials to build, and prompts the skin to not retain its natural elasticity. After years of sun and light exposure, tanning can begin to create a callousing effect. The bonds that hold tissues together weaken, and fail to regenerate when UV radiation is constantly present. This is what causes many people to consult with a cosmetic surgeon like Dr. Usha Rajagopal about appearances that resemble premature skin aging.
Other natural skin healing mechanisms can also be affected by habitual tanning. If skin cells must constantly adapt to pigmentation changes, there is less energy given to healing. People who constantly tan might notice that wounds like scratches, cuts, and burns heal slower than expected. This is due to exposed skin having a diminished ability to remain vascular, and to transport nutrients via the bloodstream. Altering the skin with deep tanning also alters the skin’s ability to replenish naturally.
What Cosmetic Procedures Can Do
Extremely advanced non-invasive procedures can reverse some of the negative results of chronic tanning. These procedures include skin tightening to reduce sagging skin areas, pigmentation treatments to create even skin tones, and removing troubling dark spots. Experts like Dr. Usha Rajagopal can pinpoint the root of skin problems, and suggest permanent solutions. Cosmetic skin surgery does not always require that a person never tans again. It only restores key skin functions, and suggests methods of tanning in better ways.
Anyone who enjoys having the dark and exotic look of a deep tan should be aware that their favorite activity could result in skin problems. It is important to check the skin regularly for troubling features like dark spots, flaking skin layers, deep tissue wrinkling, and the inability to heal from simple cuts and contusions. Cosmetic surgeons are the perfect resources for learning how to tan well, while remaining perfectly safe through any season.
