You may be wondering if there’s a safe way to get a suntan. It’s a question that many people ask, especially when the sun is shining and the beach is calling. The reality is that with sunshine comes the possibility of skin damage, which can affect your appearance and overall health.
However, there are ways to get a sun-kissed glow without damaging your skin. Read on to learn more about the risks of tanning and how to safely add some color to your skin.
There’s no such thing as a healthy suntan
A suntan is actually a sign of a skin injury. It means that your body tried to protect itself against damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. When UV radiation damages the DNA in your skin cells, your body produces more melanin (the pigment that gives skin its color) as a way to protect against further damage. This causes your skin to darken.
Exposure to UV radiation can impact your health and appearance
The sun gives off two types of ultraviolet radiation. UVA rays have a longer wavelength and can pass through the top layer of the skin into the middle layer of skin, causing damage and premature aging. UVB rays have a shorter wavelength and primarily affect the top layers of the skin, causing sunburn. Both types of UV radiation greatly increase the chance of skin cancer.
Risks of UV radiation include:
- Sunburn – UVB radiation causes sunburns with painful reddened skin and sometimes blisters, fever and chills.
- Premature aging – UVA radiation causes wrinkles, fine lines and dark spots at an earlier age.
- Less elastic skin – UVA radiation makes skin less elastic, causing skin to sag or look leathery.
- More visible stretch marks – Stretch marks don’t tan like the surrounding skin, so they may be more obvious after tanning. Sunless tanner (which we talk about below) is actually the best way to hide stretch marks.
- Eye damage – Exposure to UV radiation can cause cataracts and other eye conditions.
- Immune system suppression – Skin damage from UV radiation can reduce your skin’s ability to defend against infections and diseases. If you’ve had cold sores in the past, you may start to get them again.
- Skin cancer – More than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S., and most are caused by the UV rays in natural sunlight, according to the American Cancer Society.
No one should sunbathe, no matter their skin color
Whenever you’re outdoors you should take steps to protect your skin from the sun. Anyone can get skin damage from the sunlight, regardless of age, gender or race. People with fair skin who are exposed to intense sunlight have the highest risk of skin damage. While people with darker skin don’t burn as easily as those with light-colored skin, getting a lot of sun can still increase the risk of skin cancer and premature aging.
Are tanning beds safe? Unfortunately, no.
There’s also no such thing as a safe tanning bed, tanning booth or sun lamp. Why is indoor tanning bad? Tanning beds give off the same types of rays as the sun, which means that tanning beds pose the same risks to your health and appearance as sunbathing.
It may even be that tanning beds are worse than the sun. The UVA radiation in tanning booths is up to three times more intense than the UVA radiation from natural sunlight, so using a tanning bed damages skin more quickly than sunbathing.
Your next question may be, are tanning beds safe in moderation? The answer is still no. Going tanning even once damages your skin and can greatly impact your health.
In fact, there’s so much evidence about the dangers of indoor tanning that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires warning labels on all indoor tanning equipment. It’s also why some states, like Minnesota, restrict the use of tanning beds to people over the age of 18 and make you sign a waiver before use.
Also, indoor tanning to get a “base tan” doesn’t protect your skin from future burns. As we mentioned before, when your skin tans, it means it’s responding to injury.
Evidence shows that tanning beds can cause cancer
There is a lot of scientific evidence that shows indoor tanning greatly increases your risk of all types of skin cancer, beginning with your very first tanning session. The damage caused by indoor tanning is cumulative, meaning that each session increases your chance of skin cancer even more.
People who use indoor tanning are 58% more likely to get squamous cell carcinoma and 25% more likely to get basal cell carcinoma, based on a review of more than 50 clinical studies.
You are also more likely to develop life-threatening melanoma, especially if you start tanning at an earlier age. If you start before age 35, you have a 75% increased risk of melanoma, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Sunless tanners can be much better options, but not all are safe
Sunless tanners are products that give your skin a sun-kissed glow without being exposed to harmful UV rays. Self-tanning products are generally safe and a much better option than sunbathing or tanning beds. But keep in mind that most sunless tanners don’t protect you from the sun, so you’ll also want to use sunscreen that’s good for your skin whenever you’re outdoors.
The FDA has provided information on the safety of sunless tanners and bronzers. There are also some products that have ingredients that can cause harmful side effects. It’s important to know which are safer options and make sure that you always follow the instructions. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Spray tans can be safe depending on the application
The active ingredient in a spray tan is dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a color additive that stains the skin by reacting with amino acids in the top layer of your skin, causing it to darken over several hours.
DHA is approved by the FDA for topical use. This means it’s considered safe to put on your skin. However, the FDA hasn’t approved DHA for commercial spray tanning booths since there are concerns about what happens when DHA is inhaled or ingested, or gets into mucus membranes (your eyes, nose, lips or mouth).
Still, there’s no UV radiation with sunless tanners, so a spray tan is usually a much better option than sunbathing or using a tanning bed. To protect yourself when you get a spray tan, it’s important to make sure that the spray or misting only gets on your skin. Before getting a spray tan, insist on the following:
- Protection to prevent the spray tan from getting on or in your nose, mouth, lips, eyes or entire area around the eyes.
- Safeguards against inhaling or ingesting the spray.
Self-tanners and bronzers are usually safe when used correctly
There are hundreds of self-tanning options, including lotions, wipes, mousses, mists and drops. What works best for you will likely depend on your preferences.
Make sure you choose one with DHA as an active ingredient. As mentioned above, the FDA considers DHA safe for topical use. Then when you apply self-tanner or bronzer products, take care to avoid inhaling them or getting them into your eyes, nose, lips or mouth.
While self-tanners are generally considered safe, they may cause irritation, especially if your skin is sensitive or injured. So it’s always a good idea to start slowly and watch for skin reactions.
Keep in mind that self-tanners may or may not provide protection from the sun. If a self-tanner contains sunscreen ingredients, they’ll be labeled with sun protection factor (SPF) numbers. If they don’t show SPF, make sure to find a sunscreen to use as part of your skin care regimen.
Self-tanning pills, nasal sprays and injections should be avoided
You may have seen self-tanning pills, nasal sprays or injections promoted online and wonder if they are a good option. The answer is that most of these products come with a lot of risks and very few benefits.
These tanning products are not FDA approved and may contain ingredients that can cause health problems. Plus, they are unlikely to give you the results you want. For example, tanning pills may make you look more orange than you’d like.
Specific ingredients to watch for include:
- Canthaxanthin – This orange dye is often a main ingredient in tanning pills. It’s similar to the chemical that makes carrots orange. When taken in large amounts, it can make skin an orange-brown color. But taking large amounts of canthaxanthin isn’t safe. People who use canthaxanthin tanning pills can have serious side effects like liver damage, vision loss, gastrointestinal problems, blood disorders and skin problems.
- Melanotan II – This synthetic compound is based on the human hormone linked with pigment production (the alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone). It is an ingredient in some tanning nasal sprays and injections. However, melanotan II is largely untested and hasn’t been approved by the FDA for any purpose. Short-term side effects include facial flushing, reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting and, for males, spontaneous erections. There are also concerns that long-term side effects could include increased risk of cancer, muscle loss, brain damage and sexual dysfunction.
- Tyrosine – This is an amino acid and is often found in tanning pills. Small amounts of tyrosine naturally occur in many foods, but the amount in tanning pills can cause gastrointestinal issues, headaches and fatigue. Plus, studies show that taking oral tyrosine for tanning doesn’t even work.
- Beta-carotene – Beta-carotene is an ingredient in some tanning pills. It is a natural pigment that gives food their vibrant orange, yellow and red colors. When taken in large amounts it can turn your skin a yellow- orange color. But high doses of beta-carotene aren’t recommended, especially for smokers.
- Lycopene – Some tanning pills include lycopene, an antioxidant that gives color to red and pink fruits like tomatoes and watermelon. Taking a lot of lycopene can turn the skin orange, but can also cause gastrointestinal issues and slow blood clotting.
What is the safest way to tan? Getting a glow without UV rays.
It would be safest if we all loved the natural color and tone of our skin. Still, we get that having a sun-kissed glow is important to many people. If you think you look best with a tan, your best option is to use self-tanning products or to get a spray tan. Just take care to avoid inhaling or ingesting them, and keep them out of your eyes, nose, lips or mouth.
And remember to always apply sunscreen to exposed skin when outdoors, no matter the season, the weather or how dark your skin is naturally – or from a sunless tanning product.
Limiting your exposure to UV rays is the best way to maintain good skin health in the years to come – preventing skin cancer and maintaining a more youthful appearance. Also make a point to check your own skin regularly and let your primary care doctor know about new moles or growths.
