You just walked inside to eat some fruit and get a nice cold drink after a day outside by the pool. You feel great and even refreshed, because it’s finally summer and you can do your favorite thing: tanning. The bronzed look gives you a new confidence, but today you overdid it a bit, realizing that you are burnt to a crisp. The enjoyment goes away, and now all you can think about is how bad this will hurt tomorrow. But, even with this unfortunate event, you will continue to tan right after your skin seems to recover.
What you don’t think about is how your skin will never truly heal from this burn because a “Sunburn accelerates skin aging and is a leading cause in the majority of cases of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer” (Skin Cancer Foundation).
This could have easily been prevented if you had just applied sunscreen throughout the day, but that wasn’t your priority. In fact, in a study done by the American Academy of Dermatology, it was found that “37% of Gen Z respondents said they only use sunscreen when nagged by other people, and 30% mistakenly believed tanning is safe as long as you don’t burn” (NPR 2024).
I am no different than the majority, loving a good tan during the summer or for a boost of confidence before prom, but I try my best to make safe choices. I use tanning oils, but layer them with a sunscreen of some sort every time. I take care of my skin afterwards as well. Moisturizing not only makes your tan last longer, but also helps your skin to recover from a day of lying in the sun.
Dermatologist Dr. Heather Rodgers explains how tanning works. The process in your body is actually a result of DNA damage from the harmful UV rays of the sun, or artificial light from tanning beds, as the melanin release is your body’s way of protecting itself. “Your DNA goes, Oh, crap, I’m being injured. Is there anything I can do? And it throws up whatever pigment it has. So by the time you have a tan, you’ve already experienced DNA mutations.” But this “injury” just happens to have results we enjoy.
Keep in mind that the best sunscreen is the one that you will actually wear because any sunscreen is better than none. Most of the best products are found at Walmart or on Amazon for a very affordable price.
One of my favorite brands is Hawaiian Tropic. I especially love their SPF 30 weightless line and have heard amazing things about their aftersun body butter. These products not only protect you from those lower UV days, but also leave you smelling heavenly.
For the days you are hoping for an intense tan, the Caroten Intensive Tanning Gel comes highly recommended. But, this requires a heavier sunscreen to be layered with it, so don’t be scared to get out that SPF 50 sport.
For a simple addition to your routine, finding a daily moisturizer that has SPF is an easy way to improve your skincare. I was even able to find my normal moisturizer in a version that is SPF 30, so maybe you can too. There is even a wide range of tinted moisturizers that help you glow while also keeping your skin protected, but remember to reapply these products, as SPF does not last all day.
And, even though I have yet to step into the world of self-tan, there are many great products out there. This allows you to feel the confidence of a tan with none of the fear of skin damage. One that I have heard pretty good things about is the Coco and Eve fake tan; the result usually looks great.
As you can see, there are tons of options you’ll love, from lightweight lotions to daily moisturizers with SPF. So, please make it a part of your routine; your skin will thank you.
