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How not to get sunburned?

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025
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Moderate exposure to ultraviolet rays is not only beneficial, but also necessary for the body. But in some cases, sunbathing is dangerous and even contraindicated, so you should know how not to get a tan in the sun and protect yourself from various complications.

  1. Buy a sunscreen with the maximum protection factor SPF 50-80. Apply it to exposed areas of skin before each time you go out in the sun. Pay special attention to your arms, shoulders, décolleté and face (nose, cheekbones, ears, lips), as these areas burn first. Don't forget about sunscreen cosmetics for your hair, as it also suffers from UV radiation.
  2. Try not to go out in the sun during the period of its intensive work, that is, from 11 to 16 hours. If you find yourself outside, then rest in the shade. After swimming in bodies of water, dry your skin thoroughly, as drops of water can cause a burn.
  3. For summer, choose loose, light clothes (dark colors attract the sun) that cover most of your body. Don't forget a hat and sunglasses.
  4. To prevent pigment spots, apply a cream with vitamin C to your body before going to bed. Minimize or stop taking oral hormonal contraceptives, tetracyclines, antihistamines, and diuretics during the summer. All of these medications significantly increase the body's sensitivity to the sun. You can make a home remedy for sunburn. Mix lemon juice and water in equal proportions. Treat your hands, wrists, décolleté, and neck with this mixture.
  5. There are certain foods that prevent sunburn. The diet should include foods rich in lycopene. It is recommended to eat tomatoes and their juices, melons, various berries and drink cooled green tea.

What should I put on to get a tan in the sun?

When going on a summer vacation, you should know what to put on to get a tan and avoid sunburn. First of all, you need to get a sunscreen with an SPF protection index suitable for your phototype. The numbers on the packaging indicate the maximum permissible time for safe rest. That is, the higher the number, the longer you can enjoy the sun's rays, since protection from harmful UV rays will be in effect.

Any sunscreen should be applied before going to the beach, preferably 20-30 minutes before. In addition, it should be regularly renewed, especially after water procedures. To choose the right sunscreen cosmetics, it is advisable to focus on the following factors:

Skin type

Temperate climate

Hot climate

Very hot climate

Week 1

Other days

Week 1

Other days

Week 1

Other days

Pale

SPF 30

SPF 40-50

Light

SPF 30

SPF 10-15

SPF 30

SPF 15

SPF 30

Normal

SPF 10

SPF 15

SPF10

SPF 30

SPF15

Dark

SPF 5-10

SPF 15

SPF 5-10

SPF 30

SPF 5-10

Tanning products are available in various forms and consistencies. Those with dry and normal skin should choose creams, while those with oily and combination skin should choose liquid forms of cosmetics, such as gels or emulsions.

Let's look at the most popular tanning prolongers, which not only speed up the appearance of a beautiful skin color, but also preserve the resulting shade:

  • Oil for/after sun – has a light structure, so it lies evenly on the skin and is quickly absorbed. Many oils have sun protection factors that minimize the risk of getting burns. The oil moisturizes and helps to get a beautiful shade.
  • Tanning booster – this product is best used after the beach and a cooling shower. Moisturizes, soothes and cools, helps to fix the tan.
  • Self-tanning spray – best used after returning from vacation. Allows you to maintain and enhance the shade you have achieved. This product is quite easy to use, and its effect appears in 3-5 minutes.

In addition to the above-mentioned preparations, you should not exclude moisturizing milk or cream from the list. Such cosmetics soothe the overheated body and act as a preventative measure against photoaging.

What to do if your face gets sunburned?

Some people are skeptical about sunbathing, arguing that sun treatments accelerate the aging process of the skin. In this case, the question of what to do if your face gets tanned in the sun is very relevant. If the tan is light, then you should not worry, but if there are signs of a severe burn and severe pain, then it is advisable to seek medical help.

In order to avoid sunburn of the skin, especially the face, it is recommended to follow these rules:

  1. To protect your face and eyes, wear sunglasses and a hat, such as a cap or wide-brimmed hat.
  2. Facial skin is very sensitive, unlike other parts of the body, so it has a high tendency to burn and premature wrinkles. To protect it, use special cosmetics with a high SPF factor.
  3. If you have fair skin, it is better to minimize your exposure to the scorching sun. The darker your skin tone, the safer and longer you can sunbathe. In any case, it is better to relax on the beach in the morning or evening.
  4. Also, do not forget that the quality of the tan is affected by the diet. To reduce the risk of burns, you need to include the following products in the menu: raspberries, strawberries, pomegranates, nuts and dried fruits, grapes, citrus fruits, legumes, beets, eggplants, green tea.

In addition to the above recommendations, drink more fluids, wash your face and take only cool showers, as too hot or cold water irritates the skin. Pay attention to facial soap and other care products. It is desirable that summer cosmetics do not contain fragrances and have a natural composition. Use moisturizing lotions that will prevent skin peeling.

My face is tanned by the sun - how can I whiten it?

There are many methods that allow you to get rid of unwanted tan. Most often, it is girls who face the problem when their face gets tanned in the sun. What can be used to whiten the skin depends on its type and, of course, on the color of the tan.

  1. Whitening cosmetics.

Today, the cosmetic industry offers a wide range of whitening creams, lotions and gels. These products contain phenols, essential oils, acids, sulfides and even UV filters. The following whitening products are most often used to restore a light tone: Floresan cream, Christina Fluoroxygen +C, Loretta, Mirra (fights pigmentation), Eveline.

  1. Cosmetology.

There are cosmetic procedures for lightening: laser bleaching, photocorrection, superficial chemical peeling and others. All of them are aimed at exfoliating cells with increased melanin content and evening out the body color. To obtain the desired result, 2-3 sessions are enough. But during the lightening period, you need to take special care of your skin and avoid sun rays.

  1. Traditional methods.

In addition to cosmetics and salon procedures, there are folk methods for face whitening. Before using them, you need to make sure that the body will react normally to such a product. To do this, it is enough to test it on a small area of the skin and make sure there are no allergic reactions.

  • Lactic acid in kefir and sour cream promotes gentle skin lightening. Apply these products to your face as a mask for 15-20 minutes. The procedures should be performed daily for 10-15 days.
  • Take a bunch of parsley and grind it thoroughly until it becomes a paste. Apply the mask daily to a clean face for 30 minutes. The duration of the procedure depends on the desired results.
  • Peel a couple of potatoes and mash them to a pulp. Add a couple of drops of fresh lemon to the potatoes and mix. Apply the resulting mixture to your face for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water, gently massaging your skin.
  • Apply fresh aloe vera juice to your face every night before going to bed. The mask should be washed off in the morning.
  • Dilute cosmetic white clay with water to a mushy state. Apply the mask to your face for 15-20 minutes, rinse with warm water.
  • Add a little baking soda to your face wash and massage it thoroughly to exfoliate dead skin cells caused by sun exposure.

When trying to brighten your face, don't forget to use sunscreen before each time you go outside. Also, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

How to remove redness if your face is tanned in the sun?

A long vacation on the beach or being outdoors during peak solar radiation activity very often leads to the appearance of hyperemic areas on the face and body. Let's consider how to remove redness if the face is tanned in the sun.

  • A wheat flour mask helps restore normal skin color. Mix a spoonful of flour with water until it reaches the consistency of thick sour cream. Apply gently to your face for 15-20 minutes and rinse. Do this twice a week.
  • An almond scrub has soothing and whitening properties. Soak 5-6 nuts in water overnight. In the morning, grind them thoroughly and dilute with milk until you get a paste-like consistency. Apply the mask at night and wash off with cool water in the morning.
  • Grate a fresh cucumber and add one egg to it. Mix everything until smooth and apply to your face. You can use cucumber slices instead of a mask, but in this case the result will be uneven.
  • Citrus juice has effective bleaching properties for tanned skin. Mix equal parts of juice (orange, lemon, lime or grapefruit) and honey. Apply the resulting mixture to your face for 10-15 minutes, rinse with warm water. After this mask, a moisturizer would be a good idea.
  • A mask made from viburnum juice and egg white has vitaminizing, whitening and soothing properties. Beat one egg white into a strong foam and add a tablespoon of viburnum juice to it. Apply the mixture to a clean face for 20-30 minutes, then rinse with warm water. After this procedure, the skin becomes soft, uniform and clean.
  • Take a tablespoon of 5% hydrogen peroxide and mix it with the same amount of potato starch. Mix everything until smooth. Apply to clean skin for 10-20 minutes, rinse with warm water.
  • A lemon-based mask is great for evening out skin tone. Mix two tablespoons of lemon pulp with rice or wheat flour. Mix well and apply to a clean face for 15-20 minutes.
  • If you need to remove redness from your face quickly, tea compresses will help. Brew strong black or green tea, cool it and pour it into ice cube trays. Wipe your face with the frozen cubes.
  • Pour boiled water over a spoonful of oatmeal and let it swell. Apply the cooled mixture to your face for 10-15 minutes, rinse with warm water.

To avoid unwanted redness of the face, use sunscreen and avoid going out into the sun, that is, during lunchtime.

How to avoid getting a sun tan at all?

If you are against tanning or it is contraindicated for certain reasons, then you should know how not to get tanned in the sun at all. Let's look at the basic rules for keeping your skin white in the summer:

  1. Sunscreen. Buy a quality sunscreen with SPF 50-80. Apply to all visible areas of your body, especially your face, before going outside. Reapply every 2-3 hours if you are outdoors for long periods of time.
  2. Summer clothes. Give preference to light clothes in light colors made of natural fabrics. Don't forget about a hat and sunglasses. You can also buy an umbrella that will protect you from unwanted radiation.
  3. Proper body care. Do a peeling a couple of times a week, exfoliating dead skin particles and tan. You can use masks made from lemon juice or parsley.
  4. Diet. You can protect yourself from solar activity from the inside. To do this, add products with lycopene (a pigment that protects against sunlight) to your diet. Eat tomatoes, melons, berries.

Sunbathing fills you with energy, improves metabolism, stimulates blood circulation and improves the functioning of the entire body. Sunbathing increases the protective properties of the immune system, gives a good mood and pleasant memories for the whole year.

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