On the other hand, there are risks associated to sun tanning. The main problem is the amount of UV rays that hit our skin. Too much of it over a long enough period of time can cause skin cancer, certainly not something that is worth getting just so you can get a bit tan. Still, for the sake of looking sexier, millions of people every summer flock to the beaches or lie in their backyard under the sun just so they can get a darker shade of brown.
The other option is to lie in a tanning bed which mimics the sun. Many people believe this is the much safer alternative to spending hours in the sun but tanning beds was added to the list of the most cancer causing forms of radiation. So before you do research on what's the best tanning bed lotion, you should probably think twice about using one in the first place.
So what's another alternative? How can you get tan without putting yourself at risk of skin cancer? One way is to use those tanning sprays or lotions. It works by basically staining your skin to the darker color that you're looking for. The main problem of course is that it doesn't last very long. After a few showers, it'll fade away. Some sprays will last longer than others but are typically more expensive.
If you're going to bake under the sun anyway, remember to always, always wear plenty of sunscreen. Sure, you won't get tan as quickly but you'll also greatly reduce the chances of not dying, which is pretty important. It's much better to get a slow, gradual tan rather than one you get in one day. If you get super dark in one day, then it usually means you got sun burned.
Think about this. When you stay in the sun for too long, you're basically being cooked. Just like a piece of toast that gets brown after being exposed to heat for some time, your skin will basically do the same thing. The big difference is that the toast isn't exposed to UV radiation while you will since you're using the sun to bake you.
When you're young, it's only natural to want to look more attractive but you need to realize that prolonged exposure to the sun over decades will cause a lot of problems even if you never develop skin cancer. You can get sun spots, more wrinkles, and even more moles. Have you ever seen people who are in their 40s who spent a lot of time tanning in the sun? Some of them look like they're well into their 60's or 70's. Look good now but pay the consequences later.
This isn't to say you should never expose your skin to sun on purpose. Some sunlight is good for your skin since that's how you get Vitamin D. A lack of Vitamin D isn't good but as you should know by now, too much sun can be way worse.
So enjoy being in the sun if you want, just make sure you wear lots of sun lotion and a hat. If you want to get darker, then either do it gradually (while still wearing sunblock) or get one of those tanning lotions that will help you look darker without actually having to go in the sun.
