Tanning: The bare essentials

By Wendy Williams

WITH the sun high in the sky people the world over are striving for that elusive all over tan.

But, there is bad news for the exhibitionists among you.

A recent study has revealed that the perfect tan could be a myth as some parts of the body tan at a slower rate than others and will never reach the same tone.

And, according to the research published in the journal Experimental Dermatology, the body part slowest to catch the sun is your rear.

The study also confirmed what many sun-worshippers have found out from experience, that the legs and inside of the arms are also slower to react to the rays than either the shoulders or the outer arm.

According to professor of dermatology Jonathan Rees, who led the study: “The research shows that instead of one skin type, in fact each of us has lots of different skin regions, each of which responds differently to UV light and so take longer than others to go red and then tan.”

These findings show that most advice about how long it is safe to spend in the sun is useless, as different body parts are more sensitive to the sun than others.
A recent Spanish study also revealed that, contrary to popular belief, umbrellas do not provide sufficient sun protection.

According to Nursing Times, even in the shade a third of cancer-causing UV rays still reach the skin.

They found that although the umbrella absorbed the majority of the sun’s direct UV radiation – with only five per cent passing through – 34 per cent of the rays reflected off the surface and still reached the area beneath.