Preparation of the skin requires nutrition from the outside and inside. "The answer is no," says Stephen Lynch, MD, Vice Chief of Staff and Primary Care/Intake Physician at our Phoenix hospital. The sunscreen should be water resistant and protect against UVA and UVB rays. But that logic doesn't make sense. But there are steps that may help prevent burns and protect the skin from excessive damage, he says. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved DHA for external application to the skin. So, everyone needs to reduce skin damage from the sun. Tanning is bad for you because your body doesn't even begin to tan until dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays have pierced your skin and started to mess with your DNA.Â, And that alone significantly increases the risk of skin cancer, said Dr. Roxana Daneshjou, a dermatology resident at the Stanford University School of Medicine. There is no such thing as a 'safe' tan. Ten Tips to a Healthy Tan Related Videos ... Sun Safety: Tips to Help Save Your Skin From Damage. Tanning isn't bad for you just because it comes with the risk of burning, which can cause skin cancer. Getting a spray tan this summer before you take that vacation trip maybe better option if you must have a little summer glow. is a sun tan never healthy? What is Sun Drop? “You can still get burned. Always, always avoid sunbeds Don't fall for the myth peddled by some salons that they can give you a 'healthy' tan with a sunbed. Have you heard of the idea of a base tan? Sunbathing and tanning often get a bad rap in our society, but mounting evidence is revealing that moderate sun exposure at healthy levels is not only safe, but necessary. Sunburns have been linked to an increased risk of melanoma. We now live long enough that the side effects: sk ... Read More. Having darker skin, however, has been shown to lead to delayed diagnoses in some types of skin cancer. Learn about the do's and don'ts of barbecuing. “Laughter lines” on your face aren’t caused by laughter – they are a result of too much sun. "Don’t be fooled by cloudy or cooler days,” Dr. Lynch says. Therefore protection from the sun is an issue for all the year round and not just the summer. Tanning beds are not safer than lying out in the sun. A truck-size shark washed up on a Maine beach. We need to re-think our views about suntans. They have the power to bounce off water, snow and sand, and penetrate windows, windshields and clothing. In fact, people who have ever used a tanning bed have a 67 percent increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma and a 29 percent increased risk of developing basal cell carcinoma. Also, stay out of the sun for the rest of the holiday to avoid further damage and cover your skin completely with a shirt. Daneshjou said that to prevent these kinds of problems, dermatologists recommend everyone (light- or dark-skinned) use sunscreen (broad-spectrum products, or clearly marked as protecting against both UV-A and UV-B) year-round. UV-B exposure increases in the summer and decreases in the winter, but UV-A exposure occurs year-round. Children, young adults and people with fair skin are at, In general, the lighter your skin, the more probable you are to burn,” Dr. Lynch says. The truth is UV radiation from natural or artificial sources such as sunbeds are harmful to your skin. And it shouldn’t. I The Sun Part Two Science Museum. Dr Leonard Condren is the medical editor of irishhealth.com (And people with more melanin in their skin have darker skin tones.). But such people should still wear sunscreen. 51 years experience Ophthalmology. "Some people say, 'Well, I should tan, because that extra melanin will protect me.' This me… Don't burn. Drink Sun Drop right after applying the cosmetic product to get your dream tan. This damage is irreversible. "If you’re exposed to the sun, there is potential for damage.” But there are steps that may help prevent burns and protect the skin from excessive damage, he says. And some countries, including Australia, have banned tanning salons. Is there such as thing as a healthy tan? They have the power to bounce off water, snow and sand, and penetrate windows, windshields and clothing. So I asked top dermatologist Dr. Ralph Massey from Santa Monica, CA. Also, be careful of areas where you may be in the shade but UV rays are being reflected towards you. 27 May 2018. While burning and extreme sun exposure can lead to a slightly increased cancer risk, vitamin D (obtained from sun exposure) has been linked to a lower risk of many other cancers. is a sun tan never healthy? No one's disputing that exposure to sunlight produces vitamin D, "the sunshine vitamin," or that vitamin D isn't important. Please refresh the page and try again. Melanin is a pigment found in skin cells that's produced when UV rays hit the skin. Outdoor activities are one way to get, Don’t be fooled by cloudy or cooler days,” Dr. Lynch says. Where is Sun Drop? False. Dermatologists break down the dangerous portion of UV light into two categories: UV-A and UV-B. Yes, it feels good. Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world. Yes, many of us love the look of a sun kissed glow, but we all know the dangers of sun exposure, and the truth is, you don’t have to be lying on the beach to come in harm’s way. Both cause the kind of DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer, but UV-A in particular can contribute to a second problem: It breaks down the natural collagen in the skin, which can lead to premature aging. So in answering the question of whether a tan is ever healthy, the answer is a definite No. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The best way to get a healthy summer glow is to tan in small doses. Half an hour to an hour under the sun a day will allow your body to produce adequate melanin to aid you the next time you tan. There is no safe amount of tanning. There seems to be a lot of confusion about the risk vs. benefits of tanning along with how much sunlight is beneficial and healthy for us. Daneshjou also noted that people who tan for aesthetic reasons are hurting themselves in the long run. Aloe vera gel is especially cooling, and can help to accelerate healing as well. Tanning can lead to an increased risk of developing skin cancer, premature ageing and uneven skin pigmentation. A healthy tan from the inside. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, Simply put, no. There is no healthy way to get a tan from sunlight, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). You will receive a verification email shortly. UVB rays cause you to tan and burn, and also stimulate the production of Vitamin D. UVA rays are longer in wavelength than UVB and penetrate deeper into your skin; while not burni… Make a difference in the fight against cancer by donating to cancer research, Gateway for Cancer Research is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Children, young adults and people with fair skin are at greater risk of cell damage from UV light. "People say, 'Oh, I don't spend time in the sun,'" Daneshjou said. “Melanin, which causes darker skin tones, has a protective effect. Be especially vigilant in protecting yourself from sun damage between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is often strongest. [7 Beauty Trends That Are Bad for Your Health]. Mixed results: The skin tans to provide a protection against the sun, and your body makes the tan as a protectant. And, for many, it's the time to celebrate the end of winter with a deep, "healthy" summer tan. And it shouldn’t. And, for many, it's the time to celebrate the end of winter with a deep, "healthy" summer tan. Tips to help save your skin from damage. It is a sign of skin damage, not a sign of good health. The health risks involved in sun tanning ranges from sunburn, skin cancer, eye damage to premature aging. “You can still get burned. “Melanin, which causes darker skin tones, has a protective effect. Over time, your skin begins to show signs of premature ageing such as wrinkles, skin lines, moles and sun spots. But is there a way to safely tan your skin without exposing it to the damage that may lead to, If you’re exposed to the sun, there is potential for damage.”. Myth 4: Sun or tanning-bed exposure is the only way to achieve a healthy glow We get it: You feel like you look better with a tan. By Brenner M, Hearing V. The sun’s ultraviolet radiation damages your skin cells every time you get a tan or a sunburn. Also, be careful of areas where you may be in the shade but UV rays are being reflected towards you. Is it safe to get a "base tan" in the summer? "In general, the lighter your skin, the more probable you are to burn,” Dr. Lynch says. Also, be careful of areas where you may be in the shade but UV rays are being reflected towards you. For those of us who live in temperate climates, the chance of getting sun exposure and sunbath is a luxury. It may seem reasonable enough: before you head off to the beach for vacation, getting a tan ahead of time might help you avoid burning, and there’s the added benefit of not looking pale when you first arrive.So does a base tan prevent burning? Visit our corporate site. People who first use a tanning bed before age 35 increase their risk of melanoma by 75 percent. Reapply regularly, especially after sweating or getting out of the water. 0. Experts estimate that going out in the sun with a base tan is equivalent to wearing a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 3 to 4. "Fairer-skinned people may not even tan until they burn.". "Collagen is the support structure for the skin," Daneshjou said. UV light pierces car windshields, and can cause damage over the course of even short walks outside. There was a problem. Thank you for signing up to Live Science. With summertime comes warm days in the sun, baseball games, barbecues and lazy days at the beach. It is important to choose wisely what time you decide to go for an outdoor sun-based tan. The truth is, there's no such this as a "healthy" tan. A tan is your body's response to injury caused by the sun. Even when wearing sunscreen, outdoor sunbathing is not risk-free. Maybe we should be thinking that a healthy tan is one you apply from a bottle and not one you acquire by deliberately exposing your skin to radiation. However, the FDA states that DHA shouldn't be inhaled or applied to areas covered by mucous membranes, including the lips, nose or areas around the eyes because the … 51 years experience Ophthalmology. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, 7 Beauty Trends That Are Bad for Your Health, breaks down the natural collagen in the skin, Woman's garden 'stepping stone' turns out to be an ancient Roman artifact, Identical twins don't share 100% of their DNA, An alien machine already visited us, Harvard astrophysicist still contends, New type of ultra-strong chemical bond discovered, Earth is whipping around quicker than it has in a half-century, Jaguar kills another predatory cat in never-before-seen footage.