The summer sun is out! How much tanning is safe

Plenty of 2000s trends are coming back into style, like low rise jeans, butterfly clips and Ugg boots. But a 2000s trend that should never come back, according to health experts, is tanning.

While it’s generally believed that getting a little color in the sunnier months is good for you, and some sun exposure is important for other health reasons, there is no such things as a “safe tan” according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Excessive sun exposure can lead to health issues ranging from the mild discomfort of a sunburn to skin cancer, but even short exposures without protection can add up.

So, sitting out for an hour or two in direct sun with the sole purpose of getting that summer glow? Out. Protecting your skin as much as possible? In.

Table of Contents

Okay, so how does the sun impact you?

Any coloration you see after sun exposure is damage to your skin’s DNA from ultraviolet (UV) rays naturally produced by the sun.

Two types of UV rays are known to have harmful effects. UVA has a longer wavelength, can penetrate the skin more deeply and isn’t filtered out by cloud cover or the glass of windows. UVB has a shorter wavelength, can be filtered and doesn’t penetrate glass.

UVA is associated with crepey skin and premature aging, and overexposure to both UV ray types can cause eye damage and immune system issues.

Either can contribute to skin cancer, which is the most common cancer in the United States, if the skin is under-protected and overexposed to the sun’s rays.

While sunlight and getting outside is certainly a part of getting vitamin D and other health benefits, without protection, the sunlight can be harmful, and it’s important to note that SPF will not block out these other health benefits, said Dr. Caroline Weingart, a primary care physician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

“They’re still outside. They’re still getting the benefits of nature, of fresh air. They’re still getting the benefit of the sun. We’re just blocking out the harmful rays,” she explained.

How to protect yourself this summer

Experts recommend that adults and children use sunscreen with at least SPF 30, and it should be applied if you’re outside for longer than 15 minutes, whether that’s a 15 minute drive in the car or 15 minutes hanging out outdoors.

“Those those few minutes that we’re out doing chores or, you know, just any everyday activities can really add up and that chronic UV radiation exposure absolutely can be a risk factor,” said Dr. Llana Pootrakul, a dermatologist with the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

You’ll want to get broad spectrum SPF sunscreen, according to Weingart, as that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, and apply even when it’s cloudy outside. You should also consider protective clothing and sunglasses.

However, it’s not recommended to put sunscreen on babies, due to their delicate skin, but rather keep them out of direct sunlight and use clothing items like hats, shaded strollers and other external sun protection.

Sunscreen should be applied 15 to 30 minutes before going outside, and reapplied every two hours after.

What about indoor tanning?

For health experts, that’s a definite no.

Indoor tanning beds use UVB rays, those deep penetrating rays, and are linked to increased cancer risk. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, using tanning beds before age 20 can increase your chances of developing melanoma by 47%. Those risks go up with every use, and tanning beds also are known to cause premature aging or injury, and some people can become addicted to the practice.

“I cannot ever recommend that salon tanning beds are safe,” Weingart said.

Medical business and health care reporter Samantha Hendrickson can be reached at [email protected] or @samanthajhendr on X, formerly known as twitter.

link