There's little evidence to support the idea that a base tan protects you against sunburn. A few sessions of indoor tanning will not prevent you from burning in the sun. A base tan is no substitute for good sun protection. Plus, the risks of long-term tanning outweigh the unproven benefits of a base tan.
Tanning under the sun or a sunlamp may give modest protection to those who are able to tan well. But the protection it gives does not come close to that derived from the use of a sunscreen. The larger issue is that any change in skin color from tanning is a sign of damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Repeated exposure to UV radiation — whether from the sun or a tanning bed — increases your risk of premature skin aging and skin cancer.
Use these methods to prevent sunburn and other skin conditions:
- Avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The sun's rays are strongest during these hours.
- Cover up. While outside, wear tightly woven clothing that covers your arms and legs. Consider wearing clothing specially designed to provide sun protection. A broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses with a high UV protection rating also will help.
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Use sunscreen frequently and liberally. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. And reapply it every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or perspiring.
Some people have medical conditions that may require a few short exposures to UV light before summer or a sunny vacation, to prevent flare-ups. Talk with your doctor before doing this.
July 11, 2020
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- Quatrano NA, et al. Current principles of sunscreen use in children. Current Opinion in Pediatrics. 2013;25:122.
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- FDA sheds light on sunscreens. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/radiation-emittingproducts/radiationemittingproductsandprocedures/tanning/ucm116432.htm. Accessed April 20, 2017.
- Elmets CA. The dark side of indoor tanning to prevent outdoor sunburns. New England Journal of Medicine. 2014;370:e1.
- Elmets CA. Polymorphous light eruption. https://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed April 20, 2017.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 26, 2017.
- Paller AS, et al.Photosensitivity and photoreactions. In: Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology. 5th ed. Edinburgh, U.K.: Elsevier; 2016.
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