Spring break is here, and so is the desire to get some color, especially before that beach vacation. Many people think getting a “base tan” will prevent sunburn and further damage while living it up on the beach. While that sounds reasonable, it is not true. Tanned skin is damaged skin. In other words, when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, your skin produces more pigment to help protect itself against harmful UV rays.
A “base tan” is the equivalent of wearing a sun protection factor (SPF) of around 3 to 4, much lower than the recommended SPF levels for sun protection. With a base tan from a tanning bed, damage has already occurred to the DNA of the skin cells. A tanning bed can increase your risk of skin cancer, brown spots, and wrinkles. A base tan can also give people a false sense of security that they do not need to use sunscreen or further protect their skin from the sun, especially when on vacation.
Your skin’s risk for burning depends on your skin type and may be affected by certain medications or medical conditions that increase sensitivity to the sun. The best way to protect your skin while on vacation or at home is to follow sun protection recommendations below:
1. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least an SPF 30 and reapply every 2 hours. I often shorten this to every 45 minutes to 1 hour for my patients, especially if they burn often or mostly. If I recommend 2 hours, it turns into 3 to 4 hours. It’s just human nature!
a. If you sweat a lot or are going to be in water, choose a water resistant sunscreen and reapply every 40 to 80 minutes. Water resistant sunscreens are typically good for 40 to 80 minutes. The duration will be on the label so you know how often to reapply.
b. Apply sunscreen about 20-25 minutes before going out into the sun.
2. Wear protective clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and a rash guard. Long-sleeve shirts and pants, as well as clothes with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), are also helpful.
3. Seek shade! Don’t purposefully sit or lay out to tan. Hang out under an umbrella or a shade structure
4. Don’t forget your lips. Apply a broad spectrum lip balm with at least SPF 30 and reapply frequently. Due to eating, drinking and talking, you need to reapply more often than sunscreen on the rest of the body.
5. Make it a priority! The real challenge is the time and attention required to follow the recommendations above. Patients will come in and tell me it took a little dedication, but by using a sun protection regimen, they were able to avoid burning and didn’t need a “base tan.”
Trotter’s Take: Forget the “base tan” and commit to using sun protection so you can enjoy time in the sun but only smarter.
While getting a base tan is not recommended, not all sun exposure is bad. Surprised to hear a dermatologist admit that? Well, then check out my podcast with Dr. Katie Varman as we chat more about the health benefits of safe sun exposure.
