We have a strange relationship with tanning. We know it's bad for our skin and can cause serious illness. Despite this, many people still want a tan. But why?
In ancient times, a tanned skin was considered good. It was associated with gladiators and athletes, people who were respected in society.
By contrast, in the Middle Ages, a tan indicated that a person worked outside and was part of the lower class. Aristocrats wanted to keep their complexion as light as possible - this is where the parasol, a small umbrella used to protect oneself from the sun, originated.
According to some historians, tanning regained its popularity between 1930 and 1940 and was associated with the notion of paid vacation that appeared in France during this period. Those who had paid leave were able to take their families to the seaside, so they came back tanned.
Prevention is Better than Cure
The following are some of the signs of sun-damaged skin:
To adequately protect yourself, use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply regularly throughout the day depending on your activity.
An adult will need about 25 to 30 ml of
sunscreen to cover their body. If a family of 2 adults and 2 children spends the day at the beach and applies sunscreen every 2 hours, your 250 ml tube should be empty!
You should also know that the harmful effects of the sun are cumulative. Your skin does not fully recover from a tan or sunburn even if it returns to its original tone. The next time you go out in the sun, you'll damage your skin even more.
