Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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So, the last time I got a proper tan I was probably... um, eleven or twelve years old? Back then, it was completely unintentional. I just ran around outside until I got tired and freckled. Then, after a particularly bad burn and a bout of skin cancer in the family, I started staying out of the sun. I've been various shades of ivory and lily white ever since.

My question for y'all is this:

How do I tan!?

And by that I mean: safely, gradually, and without major sunburn. How long per day? What time? Etc.

Alright, ladies and gents, go forth and hack my skin.

flag	asked Aug 23 2011 at 15:05 L. 380●3●11

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Maybe you should run around outside until you get tired and freckled. But seriously, two things helped me tan without burning: 1. Getting my n6/n3 ratios in balance 2. Getting my Vitamin D levels up. Oh wait, how you gonna do that without going in the sun? Get your levels tested and supplement if you are low. Eat some fish. Then, go get a tan (maybe run around outside until you are tired). – Dave S. Aug 23 2011 at 17:11

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+1 on running around outside – Cave Tomboy Aug 24 2011 at 8:36

Jack Kronk · Accepted Answer · 2011-08-23 15:55:03Z UTC

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I lay out midway on the weekends and late afternoon on the weekdays. 10-12 min each side.

Of course, everyone is very different depending on all kinds of factors, including melanin in your skin and VitD etc etc. Some people tan VERY easily and very quickly. Others are "hard tanners", like muscle building. (hard gainers).

Don't burn. So find what timeframe works for you. I recommend a gradual increase upwards, meaning be conservative at first until you know what your skin can handle. Small incremental exposures is much better than longer one shot attempts to get darker. The more you skin gets used to the sun without burning, the more resistant to burning you'll become, and you'll see a nice tan come about slowly.

answered Aug 23 2011 at 15:55

Jack Kronk
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I think I must be a "hard tanner" because I currently lay out for 15 minutes on each side and see virtually no results. I glow in the dark. Vampires think I'm pale. Chalk frequently asks me if I'm its mother... Choose your metaphor. – L. Aug 23 2011 at 16:42

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Casper is scared of you. Procol Harem was thinking of you when they wrote "Whiter Shade of Pale". – Dave S. Aug 23 2011 at 17:18

i like em all. i'm a hard tanner too. with how much i've been laying out lately, i should be way darker than i am, especially since i'm part puerto rican! but i'm also part european so that might impede tanning abilities for me. – Jack Kronk Aug 23 2011 at 17:20

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by the way... if you like safaris, and you are ever in south central NJ (but you should never be in south central NJ), then hit up the big drive through safari connected to six flags great america. it's off the chizzain. – Jack Kronk Aug 23 2011 at 17:22

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"you use elmer's school glue to spread on a fake tan." – Jack Kronk Aug 23 2011 at 17:24

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Casey · Answer 2 · 2011-08-23 15:40:30Z UTC

Start out with maybe 5 minutes of full sun exposure - no sun screen.

If you burn, that was too long. Decrease the time and try again.

If you see no (or a little difference), increase the time.

The more you do it, the longer you'll be able to stay out.

ETA: I also opt to lay out in the middle of the day, around 12:00 or so. This coincides nicely with my kids' nap time on the weekends.

Erin H · Answer 3 · 2011-08-23 15:48:03Z UTC

work outside. Either by doing your workout or gardening. I didn't have beautiful tan this summer (I work in Ag so read "farmers tan") but it's how our paleolithic partners in crime got their sun. I realize that you probably work an office job, so what if you took your workout outside? Whatever you do indoors take it outdoors, half an hour of sun right there. Typically, I assume that whatever you do with your kids or other responsibilities(mr. Blackberry if you're that type) will manage as well by you being outside as inside.

Best method for tanning newbie?

3 Answers