Love outdoors, but fear of sun tanning stopping you? Although sun tan and sunburns can be reversed, getting baked under the sun is not safe for you.  

Here are 10 tips to keep yourself from further sun damage and prevent sun tanning:

1. Firstly, AVOID going out during the peak hours of sunlight:

   Between 11 am to 4 pm, the sun is at its hottest and hence the damage will be worse. Spend as little time as possible outside during these hours, whatever the weather or temperature.

2. When you go out, walk to the SHADY side:

   Do not stay under the sun for long. Find a sun-safe place if possible to pause the sun damage being done to your skin. Also, avoid staying near beaches for long, as water and sand reflect the sun’s rays, causing sun tanning.

3. COVER, cover and cover yourself up:

   Wear clothes that protect your skin against tanning. Cover your hands and legs completely when exposed to the sun. Whatever the weather is like and whatever you are doing, cover-up! Wear full-sleeved clothing to minimize the sun’s exposure.

4. Apply SUNSCREEN to protect your skin:

   Apply sun-protection cream to all areas of exposed skin about 20 minutes before stepping out, even in cloudy weather. If you’re exposed to the sun for long hours, re-apply sunscreen every 3-4 hours once. Any good sunscreen above 30 SPF would keep you protected.

5. Forget not to sun-protect your LIPS:

   Lips darken not because of smoking only, the sun darkens the lips too. Use lip-balm that has added SPF for UV-protection.

6. Do wear UV protected SUNGLASSES:

   Your under-eye skin is more sensitive compared to your other skin area. Do wear UV protected sunglasses when you go out. Also, go for lens size, which covers the entire under-eye area.

7. Choose sun-friendly COSMETICS:

   Apply moisturizer in the day time so that the skin can get enough moisture. Instead of using cream based on makeup, use mineral-based ingredients. Avoid applying perfumes; it may make our skin sensitive towards heat.

8. Staying HYDRATED:

   Drink at least 15 to 20 glasses of water in a day to prevent getting dry. This helps in reversing the effects of tanning too.

9. WASH your face at least twice a day:

   Remember to wash your face 2-3 times a day to keep your skin clean.

10. Follow a DIET that makes you immune to the sun.

    Eat healthy fibre-rich foods like vegetables and fruits so that your skin’s immunity gets a boost and the sun damage can be prevented from within. Antioxidants and vitamins in your diet will also act as internal sunscreen for your skin.

A sun tan is a pure sign of damaged skin, avoid it in the first place. As they say, prevention is always better than cure! Stop tanning! 

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