Tanning is still tempting, regardless of cautionary tales you've heard to discourage you. A tan has come to be associated with good health and an active lifestyle. Some sunscreens even boast that they can filter out the sun's "burning" rays while letting your skin turn pleasantly bronze. However, as the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) points out, there's no safe way to tan. That attractive glow ultimately puts you at risk for not only weathered skin, but also a deadly form of skin cancer.
Understanding Tanning
Ultraviolet rays come in two forms: short-wave ultraviolet B rays (UVB), which cause your skin to burn, and ultraviolet A rays (UVA), which reach deeper into your skin, summoning forth melanin, the substance that gives your skin color, and, in this case, creates a tan, explains the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD). UVB rays, being stronger, may seem as though they're a bigger hazard to your skin, but it's actually UVA radiation that you have to look out for, says Paula Begoun, skin care expert. UVA rays weather your skin, causing not only wrinkled, tough skin, but other types of problems as well, such as immune system suppression, cataracts and various types of skin cancer.
Skin Cancer Types
The AOCD cites three types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, the most common type; squamous cell carcinoma; and melanoma, which is the most deadly, accounting for almost 7,000 American deaths each year. The easiest way to protect yourself from skin cancer is to simply avoid the sun–especially intentional tanning.
Tanning Beds
According to the AOCD, tanning beds mostly expose you to UVA rays and a small percentage of UVB rays sneaking through--and they're not necessarily safer than the sun. However, you may be less likely to get a sunburn during an indoor tanning session, though with repeated exposure, your skin is still at risk for the same type of cosmetic damage the sun can inflict--lines, wrinkles, age spots and a leathery texture. Furthermore, the prevalence of UVA rays in tanning beds means the cancer risk remains.
Reach for Sunscreen
To reduce the cosmetic damage of tanning and to protect your health, sunscreen is the obvious choice. Begoun advises using a sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays, further noting that few sunscreens contain ingredients that protect you from both types of radiation. Look on the product label to see if your product contains titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, avobenzone, Tinosorb or ecamsule, Begoun advises. The AAD recommends choosing a product with a sun protection factor, or SPF, of at least 30. Put it on at least 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply it frequently, at least every two hours or as needed–even on cloudy, overcast days.
Safer Glow
Using a sunless tanner–a gel, lotion or spray–is the safest way to achieve an attractive glow. The active ingredient in sunless tanners causes the dead layer of skin on your epidermis to darken, explains the Mayo Clinic. As skin cells shed, your tan fades, usually after three or four days. To get a uniformly tanned look, Begoun advises taking a brief cool shower or bath, during which you exfoliate your skin well. Rub a light moisturizer on the areas of the body you intend to treat to avoid a splotchy look. Next, apply the tanner evenly, treating one part of the body at a time. Wait 15 minutes before you get dressed to give the sunless tanner time to dry. You can avoid tanned fingers and palms by wearing plastic gloves, Begoun says.
