Even after all the education about dangers of tanning, for a lot of people a quick “fix” of a bronzed body outweighs the risks of a long term damage. They think that it will take “forever” before any problems are visible.

How long does it take, really?

Working in a tanning industry I have seen first hand the damage that sun and solarium beds do to people. First, little freckles and skin discolorations appear. Then, the skin starts to loose its elasticity. It happens so slowly, that most do not notice it. Yet, when you see two people of the same age side by side, one that tans frequently, and the other one not at all, the difference is striking.

And it is already apparent in girls in their mid-late 20s and early thirties.

In fact, if you tan regularly, at the age of 30 you will have the skin of a 40 year old woman that does not tan. By the time you are in your mid 30s, you will have loose skin all over your body. As the elastin fibres break down, the texture of skin becomes thinner, and wrinkles and creases appear. You will also get large “age spots” and broken capillaries, where the blood has boiled from the heat of sun or solarium. And it only gets worse from then on.

What is your chance of getting of all those results if you sun or solarium tan regularly?

100%

What can you do to reverse this damage when you are older?

Not enough. You can repair the surface of the skin to look more pleasing to the eye, but nothing will repair the elastin fibres deep down in the skin that have been damaged irrevocably. The only way is for plastic surgeon to tighten the skin, but it will cost a small fortune for your whole body to be done.

Does it all mean we should stay white and pasty all our lives?

Not at all!

These days salon spray tanning as well as self tanning products are readily available, effective and very affordable. Sure, you might need some experimenting to find the best product for you, but once you find the right method and product, it is well worth it. Salon spray tanning is not only very quick (especially in the booth), but also cheaper than solarium (see www.best-spray-tan-guide.com for price breakdown).

If you are prepared to put in a little bit of effort and learn how to tan with self tanning products, you not only will get a totally natural looking tan, but it will cost you less than bus fare to the beach.

And the best thing of all? Your skin will stay young, tight, blemish and wrinkle free well into your advanced years without expensive cosmetics, lasers and plastic surgery.

So, what does a smart girl do if she wants to have a great tan, but is not willing to sacrifice her skin?

SHE FAKE TANS.

a) Topical agents- Acne can be treated effectively with topical agents, although the response sometimes is very slow.

b) Cosmetics- Abstain from cosmetics causing skin irritation. Use water-based and non-comedogenic cosmetics. Avoid greasy ointments and vegetable oils, parabens, lanolin, glycol, alcohol, petroleum oils and oleic acid in cosmetics.

c) Oils- Oils, like coconut oil, jojoba oil, lavender oil (soothes and heals scars) and tea tree oil (fights infection due to it’s antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties) are good for acne.

c) Diet- Avoid fried, greasy and sweet foods and foods with iodine (fish and iodized salt). Include extra doses of vitamin A in your diet after consulting a dietician.

d) Cleansing and exfoliating- Develop a regular habit of skin cleansing. Remove all your make-up at bedtime. Exfoliate with a gentle scrub 3-4 times per week.

e) Hydration- Drink 8-10 glasses of water throughout the day. Increase intake of water rich fruits and vegetables like cucumber, melon etc. Water flushes out toxins from the body and opens up blocked pores.

f) Humidity- Avoid excessive humid conditions like saunas or cooking in a poorly ventilated kitchen.

g) Picking- Do not pick the pimples and blackheads.

h) Stress- Beat stress. Try the relaxation and deep breathing techniques of yoga.

i) Sun- Avoid unnecessary sun exposure. Use proper protection like a sunscreen.

j) Exercise- Exercise to relieve stress and improve blood circulation to fight acne-causing bacteria more efficiently.

Treatment of different types of acne:

A) Mild acne:

Topical agents like gels and lotions are best for mild acne. For convincing improvement, it might take several weeks of continuous use. Suitable topical agents might be-

a) Benzoyl peroxide (cream, lotion or gel)- Due to excess oil secretion, the pores are clogged and become nests for bacteria which is responsible for inflammation and swelling. This medication eradicates the bacteria and removes dead cells from the skin’s surface.

b) Retinoic acid- This is a very mild topical agent and in some cases might take as long as over a month to show results. At first it aggravates the acne and then slowly treats it by removing the dead cells.

c) Sulfur- This medication helps to heal blemishes.

d) Salicylic acid- This medication cleans up the pores, removes dirt and oil and is specially effective for treatment of blackheads.

e) Azelaic acid- (non-toxic and very mild) Due to it’s antibacterial properties, this medicine attacks the bacteria that causes acne, reduces inflammation with it’s free radicals and restores the skin’s structure. It also removes persistent dark spots left behind by acne.

B) Moderate acne:

In addition to the above-mentioned medicines, this type of acne needs some oral antibiotics which are-

a) Ibuprofen- This medicine is non-steroidal and fights inflammation.

b) Isotretinoin- This drug, derived from vitamin A, is very effective in fighting persistent or relapsing acne and scars made by acne. It markedly reduces sebum production, kills acne-producing bacteria and combats inflammation. If sole use of topical agents fail, then this medication can be used in combination.

c) Spironolactone- This medicine, an anti-androgen, has a direct effect on the sebaceous gland reducing sebum production and comedone formation. It is generally prescribed for females.

d) Tetracycline- This antibiotic kills acne bacteria and is quite effective for cystic acne but not for blackheads.

e) Doxycycline- This antibiotic is used for killing acne bacteria. It is generally more effective than tetracycline.

C) Severe acne:

Individuals with severe acne need help from a dermatologist and also oral medications. It takes quite a long time to determine whether it is moderate or severe acne. Accordingly determining the treatment method is also delayed.

First, oral isotretinoin is tried with the patient. If no positive result is shown within the next few weeks, then high dosage of oral antibiotics or anti-androgens (in case of females) can be used for long term, sometimes a year to treat this kind of acne.

Some other treatment options include:

1. Expression of comedones by diathermy.

2. Brief exposure to sunlight. The anti-inflammatory properties of the ultra violet rays of the sun might help.

3. Extreme cases of acne nodules can be treated by intra-lesional steroid injections.

4. Phototherapy with blue and red light reduces inflammation.

5. Hormone treatment has been known to reduce acne.

6. The freezing treatment (cryotherapy) is useful to check spread of surface skin lesions by using cryogens like carbon dioxide snow or liquid nitrogen. This technique also checks future eruptions.

7. Skin resurfacing techniques like dermabrasion can help in evening of facial scars and lesions.

8. Certain affordable home remedies with lasting effects have proved to be quite effective in treating acne.

a) Sandalwood powder- Add a few drops of water to half a tablespoon of the powder. Apply all over the face. Avoid eye area. Let dry. Rinse. This fights acne and blemishes.

b) Almond meal and lemon rind- Make a facial scrub with 2 tablespoon almond meal, 1 tablespoon ground lemon rind and 3-4 tablespoon milk. Gently scrub your face and get rid of excess oil.

c) Clay mask- Mix 2 tablespoons of green clay with 2 drops of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 tablespoon of yogurt and 2 drops of lavender oil. Make a paste with water. Apply all over the face. Avoid eye area. Let dry. Rinse. Clay mask gives maximum benefit to the oily skin for it’s deep cleansing properties.

d) Cedarwood and sandalwood oil- Mix 2-3 drops of these two oils and gently massage over the face area. The combination of these two oils has a soothing effect, is an excellent skin conditioner for oily skin and treats acne and eczema.

e) Face mask- Take the white part from an egg. With it, mix 2 tablespoon clay/kaolin, 1 tablespoon oats, 1 tablespoon cornflower and enough rose water to make a paste. Add lavender oil and/or juniper berry oil. Mix well. Apply all over the face. Avoid eye area. Let dry. Rinse. Enjoy your soft, oil-free skin.

Dipasree Samanta