Is it possible to tan on a cloudy summer day?

After all, ultraviolet light penetrates through clouds!?

You can get sunburned, but only in the south. I remember from my early youth, we went with my family to the Krasnodar region. My brother is white. We came to sunbathe on the beach, but the weather was cloudy, there was no sun, We looked - everyone was sunbathing. We lay there for 2 hours. Nothing for me, i.e. I got a little tanned (the skin itself is dark), and my brother turned all red, even burned. He kept wondering: “How can this be? I haven’t seen the sun, but I’m so tanned.”

You can sunbathe in almost any weather, but the effect may be unexpected. Ultraviolet is not X-ray radiation, it is radiation intermediate between the optical spectrum and the hard, all-penetrating x-ray. Therefore, it is easily weakened by various obstacles and the same water or even water vapor - clouds. Ultraviolet light penetrates water approximately 1 meter until it disappears completely. Likewise, clouds weaken the effects of ultraviolet radiation, and therefore in cloudy weather you can sunbathe longer, but due to the lack of thermal infrared radiation, you can miss the moment and even get burned. Another point is that ultraviolet light can be scattered and refracted by water droplets, and therefore hit the earth’s surface unevenly, which can lead to unexpected burns.

Effect of sun rays:

1. They can vary in length and aggressiveness. UVA and UVB rays penetrate even loose objects, as well as fog, water and clouds.
2. Passing through the clouds, the sun's rays are scattered, their effect on the skin becomes less aggressive. It is possible to tan even in cloudy weather, but to get a beautiful bronze shade you will have to spend much more time on the beach.
3. The sun's rays hidden in the clouds promote the production of melanin in skin cells. And this leads to natural pigmentation, which is how you get a tan without the sun.

Under a cloudy sky, people do not feel the first signs of burning. But even in cloudy weather, the sun's rays actively affect the skin without heating it.

Cosmetologists and dermatologists say that you can tan much stronger under the clouds because:

1. the effect of sunlight is less aggressive, does not burn or heat the cellular fluid;
2. the skin gradually produces melanin, there is no danger of the formation of pronounced age spots;
3. the surface of the entire body slowly takes on a ruddy color, which then transforms into bronze and chocolate.

A tan in the shade (and that’s exactly what clouds are) will be more uniform, of higher quality and longer-lasting. During the process, the skin does not lose moisture or dry out, which means that the problem of peeling, itching and redness will not be present. For a beautiful tan you will have to spend much more time, but this is the preferable option.

But you can get burns and provoke the development of the photoaging process even in relatively cloudy weather. Precautions when getting tanned under clouds:

1. Use of sunscreens. If you have to go to the beach in cloudy weather, then you can choose a cream or milk, a spray with a low SPF level - 15-30.
2. People with fair skin should not spend more than 30 minutes outdoors. Even with dense cloudiness, the risk of getting sunburned and sunburn remains.
3. It is better to be on the beach before noon and after 17-00. Even scattered sun rays increase their activity during the daytime. After spending the whole day on the beach under the clouds, by evening you can find all the signs of burns on your skin.

Few people know that in cloudy weather you need to swim in the sea or in another body of water as often as possible - the tan will lie faster and more evenly. It is better if the skin dries naturally, and during this time the sun's rays scattered through the clouds will have a beneficial effect on the upper layer of the epidermis, being attracted to it by water drops.

Recommendations for a beautiful tan in cloudy weather:

1. After swimming in the sea, you will need to immediately take a shower and wash off the salt. After water treatments in a pool or fresh water pond, it is better to postpone the shower for 2-3 hours.
2. You need to change your usual diet. Some foods have the amazing ability to activate a tan: melon, spinach, apricots, grapes and broccoli, fish, seafood, poultry liver and avocados.
3. When you return home from the beach and take a shower, you can use vegetable or cosmetic oils. They develop the resulting tan, even it out, and fix it. The most effective are sesame, apricot, rose hips and wheat germ.

Skin care after sunbathing under the clouds requires hydration. To do this, it is better to prepare the product yourself. Recipe:

1. From the packaging of any moisturizer, place 2 tablespoons of the product into a separate glass or ceramic bowl.
2. Add 5 drops of vitamins A and E from ampoules to them, mix thoroughly.
3. Add 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil to the product and mix well again.

The cream is applied in a thin layer immediately after the shower, and after 2-3 hours the procedure should be repeated. The finished mass is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days, and then a new portion is prepared.

You can use gauze napkins and a decoction of chamomile flowers - just make lotions and wipe the skin after being under the clouds on the beach to relieve inflammation and fix the resulting tan, and prevent the appearance of areas of peeling and redness. The decoction is prepared from 1 tablespoon of plant material and 300 ml of water, boiled in a water bath for 3-5 minutes, cooled and filtered.

Read more in our article about tanning through clouds.

Read in this article

Does the tan go through the clouds?

Many people believe that you can only get a tan by being under the sun and complain about cloudy weather when you find yourself on the sea coast. To understand how effective it is to sunbathe under the clouds, you need to know at least a minimum of information about the sun's rays:

1. They can vary in length and aggressiveness. UVA and UVB rays penetrate even loose objects, as well as fog, water and clouds.
2. As the clouds pass through, the sun's rays dissipate and their effect on the skin becomes less aggressive. It is quite possible to tan in cloudy weather, but to get a beautiful bronze shade you will have to spend much more time on the beach.
3. Even the sun's rays hidden in the clouds contribute to the production of melanin in skin cells. And this leads to natural pigmentation, which is how you get a tan even without the sun.

And here is more information about children's sunscreen.

Why you can get a tan more

Under a cloudy sky, people lose their sense of reality and miss the first signs of sunburn. But even in cloudy weather, the sun's rays also actively affect the skin without heating it.

Cosmetologists and dermatologists say that you can tan much stronger under the clouds, and here's why:

1. the effect of sunlight is less aggressive, does not burn or heat the cellular fluid;
2. the skin gradually produces melanin, there is no danger of the formation of pronounced age spots;
3. the surface of the entire body slowly takes on a ruddy color, which then transforms into bronze and chocolate.

A tan in the shade (and that’s what clouds are for a person) will be more uniform, of higher quality and longer-lasting. During the process, the skin does not lose moisture or dry out, which means that there will be no peeling, itching or redness.

In order to get a uniform dark tone throughout the body and face, without pronounced spots and signs of sunburn, you will have to spend much more time. But on vacation there is nowhere to rush, so cosmetologists call tanning through the clouds more preferable.

Precautions when tanning through clouds

Despite the fact that clouds scatter the sun's rays and make them less aggressive for the skin, experts warn about precautions. You can get burns and provoke the development of the photoaging process even in relatively cloudy weather. Things to remember:

1. The use of sunscreen remains necessary. If you have to go to the beach in cloudy weather, then you can choose a cream or milk, a spray with a low SPF level - 15-30. You can use those products that are designed to obtain an even, bronze tan.
2. People with fair skin should not spend more than 30 minutes outdoors. Even with dense cloudiness, the risk of getting sunburned and sunburn remains.
3. It is better to be on the beach before noon and after 17-00. Even the scattered rays of the sun increase their activity during the daytime, so it’s not worth the risk. After spending the whole day on the beach under the clouds, by evening you may be surprised to find all the signs of burns on your skin.

How to tan beautifully

Few people know that in cloudy weather you need to swim in the sea or other body of water as often as possible, the tan will lie faster and more evenly. Experts believe that in such weather there is no need to strive to wipe and dry the body as quickly as possible and get rid of droplets of water. On the contrary, let the skin dry naturally, and during this time the sun's rays scattered through the clouds will have a beneficial effect on the upper layer of the epidermis, being attracted to it by water drops.

There are several more effective recommendations that will help you get a beautiful and even quick tan in cloudy weather:

1. After swimming in the sea, you will need to immediately take a shower and wash off the salt.. It spoils the epidermis and causes it to become excessively dry. But if water procedures were taken in a pool or reservoir with fresh water, then it is better to postpone the shower for 2-3 hours so that the resulting tan is established.

1. You need to change your usual diet. Some products have the amazing ability to intensify your tan. These include: melon, spinach, apricots, grapes and broccoli, as well as fish, seafood, poultry liver and avocados. It’s better to avoid barbecue, but it’s worth pampering yourself with various southern delicacies.
2. Upon returning home from the beach and after taking a shower, you can use vegetable or cosmetic oils. They develop the resulting tan, even it out, and fix it. The most effective are sesame, apricot, rose hips and wheat germ.

Do you need skin care after sunbathing under the clouds?

Even if the beach holiday took place during cloudy weather, and there are no signs of sunburn on the skin, you should take care of it and ensure its safety. You will definitely need to moisturize the epidermis, and it is better to do this with a homemade cream. The product is prepared according to the following algorithm:

1. From the packaging of any moisturizer, place 2 tablespoons of the product into a separate glass or ceramic bowl.
2. Add to them 5 drops of vitamins A and E from ampoules sold in pharmacies, mix thoroughly.
3. Add 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil to the product and mix well again.

This cream can be used as a powerful moisturizer. It is applied in a thin layer immediately after a shower, and after 2-3 hours the procedure should be repeated. The finished mass is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days, and then a new portion is prepared.

Watch the video about DIY after-sun oil:

You can use gauze wipes and a decoction of chamomile flowers. It is enough to apply lotions and wipe the skin after being under the clouds on the beach to relieve inflammation and consolidate the resulting tan, to prevent the appearance of lesions, peeling and redness. The decoction is prepared from 1 tablespoon of plant material and 300 ml of water, boiled in a water bath for 3-5 minutes, cooled and filtered.

And here is more information about the degrees of sun protection.

It is quite possible to get a tan through the clouds, but this must be done correctly, and do not forget about proper skin protection before and after care. Cloudy weather is not a problem, because you can get a safe, even and very attractive bronze or chocolate tan.

An important indicator is the degree of sun protection. They can be in creams and oils, start with one and end with 100+. When and which one to use? What is the disadvantage of high degree and low degree?

You can choose a sunscreen for your face from cheap homemade ones, or you can choose the best protection from store-bought ones. To prepare for sunbathing, it is recommended to apply in advance to protect the dermis from aging and burns.

Pediatricians say that children's sunscreen in hot weather can overcome many problems. It must be used both in the sun and in cloudy weather. A good sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before sunbathing and going outside.

When buying a product, many people wonder whether it is possible to tan with sunscreen. For example, if you smear it on the beach or for a walk. The answer is yes. However, it is important to understand how the rays penetrate the cream when choosing different SPF.

Sunscreen foundation is considered a rather interesting product. It not only protects your skin from harmful UV rays but also creates a perfect makeup look. How to choose the right foundation with sun protection?

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Tan

In the summer, everyone strives to make the most of their vacation time and get a boost of health and vigor on the beach for the rest of the year. At the same time, many have heard both about the benefits and harms of tanning. We decided to figure out what is true and what is a myth.

1. The darker the tan, the more vitamin D

When ultraviolet rays hit the skin, they trigger the production of vitamin D. This is the only “non-standard” vitamin that not only comes to us with this or that product, but is also produced by the body under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. To get the daily requirement of vitamin D, it is enough to spend only 10-15 minutes in the sun. At the same time, bronzed skin becomes almost impenetrable, and the vitamin necessary for strengthening and growing bones is not produced. This is why people who try to be tanned all year round are faced with the problem of brittle bones earlier.

2. Brunettes can tan longer than blondes.

People with fair skin types are indeed much more prone to sunburn and, therefore, melanoma than dark-skinned people. Among Europeans, three phototypes are distinguished; in the classification, not only skin color, but also eye color is important.

So, the first type is light sensitive skin with freckles, light blue or green eyes, blond or red hair. Such people almost cannot sunbathe, but they can easily get sunburned. The safe time that people of this type can spend in the sun without protective cream is no more than 7 minutes. The second type is fair skin, few or no freckles, light eyes, light brown or brown hair. The tan does not apply well, at first the skin takes on a red tint and burns quite easily. You can be in the sun without sunscreen for no longer than 15 minutes.

The third type is dark skin, brown eyes, dark hair. The skin tans easily, and sunburn is rare for it. Without protection, you can sunbathe for up to 20 minutes.

3. Tanning accelerates aging

Aging of the body as a whole is a complex process on which tanning is unlikely to have any effect. However, when exposed to sunlight, processes similar to aging occur in the skin. In medicine, a special term “photoaging” even appeared. Scientists have calculated that one season of intense tanning ages the skin by 6 months. And if for the last 10 years you spent your summer holidays on the beach, then the first wrinkles may appear five years earlier than the date programmed by genes. The first sign of photoaging is pigment spots on the face and neck, which over time grow and darken. 1-2 days before visiting the beach or every 4 hours while in the sun, dermatologists recommend taking vitamin E capsules. It will help maintain elasticity and youthfulness of the skin.

4. Tanning leads to cancer and other diseases

Doctors have convincing evidence that excessive sun exposure can indeed cause skin cancer. However, if you use sunscreen and don't sunbathe to the point of blisters, there is no need to worry about such consequences.

Tanning is also often cited as a cause of mastopathy (breast disease). This myth is probably due to the fact that if mastopathy already exists but is asymptomatic, it can manifest itself after heavy sunbathing. Intense tanning can sometimes lead to hormonal imbalance and worsen the symptoms of the disease. Contrary to popular belief, the sun's rays do not directly affect breast tissue. The only danger is sunburn of the nipples and areolas (nipple area), which can lead to cracked nipples and even inflammatory changes in the mammary gland.

5. Certain foods will help enhance your tan.

A beautiful, even tan can really be achieved with some products. For example, carrots and apricots are rich in beta-carotene. Before going to the beach, it is recommended to drink a glass of freshly squeezed juice so that your tan goes on smoother and faster. Tomatoes will also help enhance the effect of tanning. They contain lycopene, a substance that stimulates melanin production. On the beach you can consume them in any quantity. Foods that will help you tan evenly include peaches, grapes, beets, melon, watermelon, tomatoes, spinach, sorrel, pumpkin, asparagus, broccoli, green vegetables, currants, citrus fruits, kiwi, bell peppers, wholemeal bread and oatmeal. . These products contain vitamins A, C, E, PP and folic acid, the lack of which can cause a “spotty” tan.

6. A number of medications can ruin your tan.

Those who combine sunbathing with taking antibiotics, hormonal contraceptives, tranquilizers, medications against allergies or high blood pressure are also at risk of getting sunburn spots. Another option is possible - photodermatitis or “sun allergy”: skin peeling off in layers. For diabetes, hypertension, mastopathy, gynecological diseases, disorders of the thyroid gland, chronic diseases of the liver and adrenal glands, it is better to sunbathe under the shade of an umbrella. This way you will receive the minimum dose of ultraviolet radiation necessary to boost your immunity and avoid harmful radiation.

7. It’s safe to sunbathe on a cloudy day.

There are two types of ultraviolet in the sun's rays: UV-A, the level of which is practically independent of the weather, and UV-B, which is necessary for the formation of vitamin D, its level actually decreases during cloudy weather. UVA rays penetrate deeply into the skin, causing premature aging, wrinkles and allergic reactions. UVB rays penetrate only the top layer of the skin, but cause sunburn and provoke cancer. At the same time, clouds transmit up to 80% of ultraviolet radiation, so you can get sunburned even in cloudy weather. It is also worth remembering that beach umbrellas, like shade from palm trees, do not provide sufficient protection and do not save from scattered ultraviolet radiation: sand reflects up to 20% of the sun's rays. Regardless of the weather, when staying outdoors for a long time, it is recommended to use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.

8. It is impossible for already tanned skin to get sunburned.

Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, the pigment melanin is produced in the skin; the intensity of the tan depends on its concentration. A basic tan is just the skin's reaction to ultraviolet light. Of course, melanin serves as a kind of barrier to dangerous UVA rays, but the skin still needs additional protection.

9. You don't need sunscreen if you swim a lot.

There is an opinion that water can provide protection from the sun, so those who bathe a lot do not need to use additional products. In fact, ultraviolet rays can penetrate to a depth of about one meter. Therefore, those who like to splash in the sea should apply sunscreen before entering the water, as well as after leaving it.

10. You need to prepare for the beach in the solarium

The possibility of getting sunburned is only slightly less for already tanned skin; such skin acquires a protection factor of no more than 5SPF, so the resulting tan is not good protection for long-term exposure to natural ultraviolet radiation. Tanning is a sign of damage to the skin from ultraviolet rays. Every time a person tans, he receives a new dose of these damages. Over time, they accumulate and contribute to accelerated skin aging and an increased risk of skin cancer.

11. A cream with a higher SPF protects your skin better.

Using sunscreens with a high SPF factor gives a sense of false security. In fact, the difference between the numbers indicating the protection factor is not that great. For example, a product with SPF 15 protects 93% of UVB rays from penetrating, and products with SPF 50-60 provide approximately 98% protection. Many sunscreens do not contain ingredients that provide comprehensive protection against both UVB and UVA rays, which have the highest penetrating power and reach the middle layers of the dermis. Experts advise applying sunscreen every 2 hours, regardless of SPF.

12. Waterproof products don’t need to be reapplied often.

Water-resistant sunscreens can only provide protection while swimming. However, even such preparations do not withstand prolonged bathing, so you will have to apply them again and again. You should also renew your protection if you dry yourself with a towel. The duration of action should be indicated on the products - 40-80 minutes. According to dermatologists, in fact, no product is completely waterproof.