Although tanned skin has been seen as a symbol of a healthy and aesthetic appearance for many years, experts point out that this perception does not align with scientific facts.
Instructor Birgül Erbaş, Head of the Hair Care and Beauty Services Program, stating the importance of protecting from intense sun, regular moisturizing, and making sunscreen use a habit for a healthy skin appearance, said, “Healthy-looking skin is not overly tanned; it is protected and well-cared-for skin.”
Instructor Birgül Erbaş, Head of the Hair Care and Beauty Services Program at Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services, evaluated the topic of tanning, which is on many people's agenda with the arrival of summer.
Instructor Birgül Erbaş stated that tanning is not the strengthening of the skin, as commonly believed, but a defensive reaction against sun rays, emphasizing that unconscious sunbathing, especially in summer, can lead to permanent spots, premature aging, and sensitivity on the skin, and added, “When the skin is exposed to the sun, it increases melanin production to protect itself. So, tanning is actually the skin's way of sounding an alarm.”
Birgül Erbaş, also drawing attention to solarium use, said that solarium devices, just like natural sun rays, can have negative effects on the skin. Erbaş stated that frequent solarium use, in particular, can wear down the skin structure, emphasizing that the desire to tan quickly can harm skin health in the long run.
Birgül Erbaş noted that sunscreen products are an important aid in protecting skin health but are not sufficient on their own. She stated, "Using sunscreen helps protect the skin, but this does not make it safe to stay in the sun for hours. It is especially important to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun during midday."
Birgül Erbaş also said that bronzing oils and accelerator products should not be used unconsciously, stating that some products can make the skin more sensitive to the sun.
Birgül Erbaş concluded her words by stating the importance of protecting from intense sun, regular moisturizing, and making sunscreen use a habit for a healthy skin appearance, saying, “Healthy-looking skin is not overly tanned; it is protected and well-cared-for skin.”
