There is a prevalent stereotype that says people like to get a nice tan. In theory, this is supposed to make them look better, though that is easily a matter of personal taste. In most cases, anything but a natural tan is temporary and requires regular exposure to the sun to maintain. While this could be seen as a way to keep up one's appearances, most people don't realize the potential hazards this can pose to overall skin care. This is especially true if a person prefers to tan the natural way and just lay down on a towel and soak in the rays of the sun. As with anything else, a little sun every now and then is a good thing, but too much of it can turn you into a skin care wasteland.

Most people want to have a nice, even suntan on their skin. The reasons for this desire can vary, but almost all of them fail to realize one little detail. The darkening and reddening of the skin that often accompanies a suntan is also the first sign of damage to the skin due to over-exposure to the sun. As a skin care problem, this can actually vary in intensity. Exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun cause damage to the skin's first layer, the epidermis. The body compensates by producing melanin, which is what gives the skin the darker pigment that is associated with tanning. Melanin protects the skin from UV rays, but there are limitations.

The skin can become burned due to exposure to UV rays beyond the capability of melanin to protect from, which results in sunburns. This skin care problem can bring along side effects such as swelling, redness, skin sensitivity, and a generally painful sensation in the burned areas. However, this can be just the tip of the iceberg that sank the Titanic. UV rays are known to do much more harm than just burning the skin; they can damage the DNA of the skin cells themselves. While this may not seem like much of a problem, the damaged DNA can make the skin far more susceptible to some skin diseases, not the least of which is skin cancer. Even if it doesn't get that drastic, UV rays can still burn skin cells and leave damages long after the burn itself has healed.

Exposure to the sun's UV rays has also been known to accelerate the aging process on exposed skin cells, essentially making your skin look older than it is. Among the first signs of this is the weakening of the skin's elasticity and strength, reducing the skin's ability to recover from damage and making things like wrinkles more prominent. The skin also begins to appear less healthy and may become thinner than normal, giving it a more pallid, translucent appearance. The skin also becomes dry and becomes damaged more easily after excessive exposure.

Doctors and skin care specialists have a few bits of sage advice to help people avoid these complications, while still getting the tan they want. Most of them suggest tanning outside of the hours when the sun is at its hottest. Some people find this a slower way to get a tan, but it is less damaging to the skin. Another is to use sunblock to help minimize damage from UV radiation. When not tanning, doctors suggest wearing clothing that protects or covers the skin.