Melanin is the natural pigment of the skin. That is, it is responsible for skin tone and hair color. For this reason, getting more or less brown during these holidays will be determined by the greater or lesser activity of the melanocytes, which are responsible for producing melanin and are located in the epidermis.
The other important function of melanin is to be a natural barrier against the damage caused by ultraviolet rays. For this reason, in addition to making you tan, helping melanocytes to produce as much melanin as possible is essential to protect the skin. So how can we activate melanin?
Melanin foods
The best way to increase the level of melanin in your skin is by eating the following foods:
Carrots
The classic food to help you get brown is the carrot . This is so because this tuber is rich in beta-carotene, a substance that is directly involved in the production of melanin. Experts advise eating carrots some time before sun exposure. Although it also has other benefits, such as taking care of your eyesight.
Tomato
Another classic for tanning from within is tomato . Also rich in beta-carotene, essential in the production of melanin as we have seen previously. So you know, this summer at your table you can not miss a good tomato salad every day.
pumpkin
Although it is a product of autumn, fortunately, its consumption is increasingly seasonally adjusted. And it is that there are so many health benefits, that in this way we can benefit from them all year round. Among them, its percentage of beta-carotene stands out.
Fruits
Apricots, watermelons, strawberries and blueberries also have high levels of beta-carotene, so their consumption is also recommended during these weeks.
Fish
Also the marine fauna can be very useful to show off your tan. Especially the blue fish . Salmon contains a very high percentage of vitamin D, essential to protect the skin from the harmful effects of solar radiation. And although it is a fatty fish that should not be abused, it is important to consume during these weeks, because in addition to helping to produce more melanin to the voice, it protects the skin.
The canned tuna is also a great natural source of vitamin E, which acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells against damage caused by free radicals.
Dairy products
Dairy products are great allies to get a good tan. This is so because they have a lot of vitamin A, in addition to tyrosine and cystine, all essential in the melanin production process.
Other ways to increase melanin
In addition to food, we can activate our melanin with extra help. And in this sense, the market offers a wide variety of food supplements that also contribute to increasing the level of melanin in the skin. If you want to try, choose a supplement that contains B vitamins, L-Tyrosine, and Gingko Biloba. Although before taking them, it never hurts to consult your doctor.
But eating foods that promote melanin production is not enough to protect us from the sun. It is essential to use sunscreen all year round, and especially if we go to the beach or pool. In this sense, it is important that you choose the most suitable for your skin type. Therefore, here we remind you of the different types of sunscreen that exist.
