With summer heat on the rise, pool season is in full swing and everyone wants to achieve that sun-kissed, just-got-back-from-vacation tan.
But does this golden glow come with hidden costs?
Tanning can lead to an increased risk of skin cancers, so it's important to understand how this happens and what you can do to achieve a tan without sacrificing your health.
Does tanning cause DNA damage?
The short answer: yes, tanning causes DNA damage.
Regardless of your choice of venue — outside in the sunlight or inside in a tanning bed — any time spent tanning exposes you to UV radiation, which causes DNA damage.
When melanocyte cells in the skin are exposed to UV radiation, the cells respond by producing melanin. This melanin is what gives the skin a "tan" appearance, but the same UV radiation that gives you a tan also causes DNA damage which is linked to an increased risk of all types of skin cancer, notably basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
The sun's damage to the skin is cumulative over many years, but sunburns in particular are known to increase your risk of skin cancer.
"There is a direct correlation between the number of blistering sunburns during childhood and the risk of skin cancer," says Dr. Rodger Brown, a reconstructive plastic surgeon at Houston Methodist who specializes in skin cancer reconstruction. "Even one blistering sunburn as a child can increase your risk of melanoma."
What is UV radiation?
UV radiation is a type of magnetic radiation that can come from sunlight or from artificial sources, such as a tanning bed. There are two types of UV radiation: UVA and UVB.
"UVA is more responsible for the tanning effect and for the premature signs of aging from sun exposure," Dr. Brown explains. "UVB is more responsible for sunburns and superficial skin damage. However, both cause DNA damage and can be linked to an increased risk of skin cancer."
Are tanning beds better than tanning in the sun?
Tanning beds use UVA and UVB, and the UVA radiation is significantly stronger than that of natural sunlight. The UVB radiation in a tanning bed is about the same strength as a sunny day.
In fact, the World Health Organization classifies tanning beds as "carcinogenic to humans," the same classification languages used for cigarettes. More specifically, indoor tanning may increase the risk of squamous cell carcinoma by 58% and basal cell carcinoma by 24%, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
What if you use sunblock with SPF?
SPF, which stands for sun protection factor, is a measure of the amount of UV rays the product blocks. The higher the SPF, the more UV rays the sunscreen blocks, thus minimizing skin damage.
"I recommend a minimum of SPF 30, but above SPF 50 is really not needed," Dr. Brown says.
The two main types of sunscreen are mineral and chemical.
"I prefer the mineral-based sunblocks as they are more effective and do not contain chemicals that could absorb into your body and block both UVA and UVB rays," Dr. Brown adds.
Can you reverse the damage caused by tanning?
Since the damage done to the skin is cumulative, there is not an effective way to reverse the DNA damage that increases your risk of skin cancer.
However, there are ways to help reduce surface-level skin damage caused by the effects of tanning. Some skin care products and treatments such as microneedling, chemical peels and lasers can help improve or reduce the aging effects of the sun damage, but Dr. Brown notes that they aren't perfect, and emphasizes that prevention is best.
Does tanning provide any health benefits?
"Although exposure to UV light, whether natural or artificial, does help the body make vitamin D, it is not necessary in most instances," Dr. Brown says.
When combined with a healthy diet, just a few minutes of daily exposure to UV is adequate, and supplements can be taken if needed. So tanning doesn't offer any significant health benefits.
Is there a safe way to tan?
Applying sunscreen decreases your exposure to harmful UV radiation, but also blocks the UV rays that will cause tanning.
"If you adequately block the UV rays, then you probably will not tan much either, so it doesn't make much sense to try to tan while wearing sunblock," says Dr. Brown.
Even if you obtain a tan over a long period of time, the damage done to the skin is cumulative, so getting a "base tan" does not offer much additional safety.
"Obtaining a slow tan over time may be protective against getting a sunburn, but it's not necessarily protective against the slow cumulative DNA damage or skin cancer risk," adds Dr. Brown.
Using self-tanning sprays or lotions is the safest way to get that tan look.
Even at that, Dr. Brown notes that there's not much information about the long-term effects of these chemicals on the skin so their health consequences years or decades after application are unknown. While these products are the safest alternative, it's possible they still may have negative effects.
