Sun tanning explains a darkening of the skin (especially of fair-skinned individuals) in a natural physiological retort aroused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight. Darkening of the skin is result by an enlarged free of the pigment melanin into the skin’s cells after exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Melanin is created by cells called melanocytes and keeps the body from direct and indirect DNA damage absorbing an surplus of solar radiation, which can be dangerous. Both men and women have been in the chase of darker skin for years but the days of tanning go back much more than any of us perhaps understand. Sun worshipping has been versed since the days of the Romans, Greeks and Sumerians.
It is doubtful to whom the very first sun tanning trend is due and any book you read will tell you the similar thing. But, as the suntanned goddesses of Roman days and the tanned women of the 20th century would tell you- attract of sun kissed skin has been enticing people for many centuries and won’t be losing its appeal anytime soon. Helios was thanked to be the Roman God of Sun and is where the phrase heliotherapy was coined. Heliotherapy is any therapeutic exposure to sun and is a phrase still employed today. Sumerians, Greeks and Romans employed to tan their skin because they believed it was more beautiful. It is also said that they felt it made them healthier and admired the sun for being able to “cure” certain diseases. After a period of time, having darker skin was no longer a status symbol.
The light look came in and reigned for fairly awhile, but, like most fashions, tanned skin made a return. The ancient Greeks were among the first people to adopt a tradition of sunbathing or sun tanning, which they referred to as helio (sun) therapy. For centuries man valued the sun as a source of healing. Many women adopted extreme measures in the dream of lightening their skin for status purposes. During the 20th century however people’s preferences changed, and women started darkening their skin. A leader in the fashion world she developed a tan while on vacation though not intentionally, which some say started to change trends. Also during the 20th century women’s’ fashions started shifting, and more people starting get pleasure from life outdoors.
Fashion changed to augment rather than hide the figure, thus the suntan became a popular means of adorning women’s figures and improving ones profile when wearing skimpy clothes. Today, people continue to tan- both indoors and out. Though there are lots of more keep precautions regarding sun exposure, tanned skin is still preferred and achieved by many. In recent society people revere the sun because it makes them think better and provides energy for physical and mechanical operations. Sun block is recommended for any amount of time tired out in the sun but you can still get a tan while you’re wearing it.