Sun Safety

There is no such thing as a "safe" tan.

If a tan forms to help block out damaging ultraviolet rays, why is a suntan considered a risky choice regarding sun safety? This is the question many people ask when they consider tanning, whether through direct sun exposure or via a tanning bed.

The reason skin tans in the first place is because damaging UV rays have penetrated the surface of our skin, triggering the release of melanosomes (skin pigment cells). These skin pigment cells form a dark/tan layer (melanin) for the purpose of trying to block out some of the damaging UV rays. It's a defense mechanism that has been activated due to damaging rays which have already penetrated our skin.
 

In other words, to get a tan, you must get injured first.

Tanning Beds and Sunlamps are NOT Harmless!

The lamps used in tanning beds give off UVA and frequently UVB rays, as well. Although some tanning bed companies would like us to believe that UVA rays are "safe", this is simply not true. Both UVA and UVB rays can cause serious, long-term damage to skin, including cancer and premature wrinkling.

According to IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer), people with exposure to tanning beds before the age of 35 have a 75 percent higher risk of getting melanoma than people who never used tanning beds.

Will a "Base Tan" Offer Protection from Sun Damage?

One common myth is that getting a base tan before going out into the sun will protect our skin from UV damage. The idea is that the increased melanin in our skin (tan) will act as a shield against the damaging UV rays.

But in truth, a base tan that indoor tanning provides contains a sun protective factor of only about SPF-4. UV rays do penetrate our skin, even with a "base tan." Therefore, a base tan doesn't offer good protection against sunburn or the genetic damage caused by UV rays that can lead to skin cancer.