Sunscreen won't prevent all skin damage or tanning — protect yourself with these dermatologist-backed tips
- Sunscreen can block most of the sun's rays and protect your skin from cancer-causing UV damage.
- Sunlight prompts your body to make skin-darkening melanin, so you may still tan with sunscreen.
While sunscreen might make it harder to get that coveted summer glow, it doesn't entirely prevent tanning.
More importantly, though, sunscreen makes it safer to get outside and enjoy the sunshine without increasing your risk for skin cancer and prematurely aged skin.
Here's what you should know about sunscreen and tanning.
How does sunscreen work?
When exposed to sunlight, your skin tries — emphasis on "tries" — to shield itself from the sun's UV radiation by producing melanin, which darkens your skin tone and creates a tan.
Important: Tanning won't protect your skin from UV damage. While your body might produce more melanin, your tan only earns you a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 4, and this increase in melanin is actually a sign of skin damage.
Since sunscreen blocks UV rays, your body doesn't need to make as much melanin to protect itself, so your skin doesn't turn as dark as it would without sunscreen.
Different types of sunscreen protect you from tanning in different ways:
- Physical or mineral sunscreen creates a physical barrier to reflect the sun's rays away from your body. These sunscreens are zinc or titanium oxide-based and work great on sensitive skin, but they often leave a white cast.
- Chemical sunscreen contains chemical filters, such as octisalate and oxybenzone, which absorb radiation instead of reflecting it. These sunscreens are less likely to leave a white cast, but oxybenzone can negatively affect coral reefs and other marine life.
As you may have noticed, however, you can still tan when wearing sunscreen. That's because the SPF rating on your sunscreen only takes UVB rays into account.
Sunscreen does a good job of protecting you from UVB rays that burn your skin, but you may not be protected from dangerous UVA rays that cause tanning unless you choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen. So, you might still produce a little extra melanin for a subtle tan.
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
Risks of not wearing sunscreen
You won't tan as much with sunscreen on because fewer rays will reach you, but you'll be much safer.
UV radiation causes skin cancers like melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma, which can be fatal if left untreated.
Skin cancer affects one in five people in the US, with rates rising yearly.
But skipping sunscreen is a bad idea for a handful of other reasons, too:
Important: Contrary to popular belief, skin cancer affects people of all skin tones. So keep in mind that even if you rarely get sunburns, radiation damage from the sun doesn't fade — it snowballs. Skipping sunscreen for a day or two increases your risk of developing skin cancer over time.
Can you tan safely?
"There's no safe way to tan. The tanning process is UV damage masquerading as what many people think is 'healthy-looking' skin," says Dr. Joseph Greco, a dermatologist in private practice.
Experts agree getting a UV-based tan without upping your risk of skin cancer is impossible. Case in point: 9 in 10 melanomas come from sunlight, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Just one trip to the tanning bed before age 35 increases your risk of melanoma by 75%.
In search of a safe tan? Your best bet involves UV-free spray tans from a salon or home sunless tanning.
Safer self-tanning options include:
- Mousse
- Foam
- Spray
- Lotion
- Wipes
- Moisturizer
- Face mist
- Serum
As an added bonus, self-tanners often include perks like hyaluronic acid, coconut oil, and silk amino acids to keep your skin dewy and glowing.
Lying out in the sun, on the other hand, can dehydrate you and your skin.
What to do if you don't want to tan
Maybe you're actively trying to avoid tanning. If so, sunscreen is only part of the picture.
You'll also want to stay inside or seek shade during the sun's peak hours.
"While the sun is directly above you and the UV rays are most damaging, you'll notice that you cast a small and short shadow. Remember the 4 S's: If your Shadow is Shorter than you, Seek Shade," Greco says.
You can reduce your chances of tanning by:
- Wearing sunscreen.
- Layering makeup containing SPF on top of your sunscreen.
- Steering clear of reflective materials that increase your risk of sunburn, such as water, sand, and snow.
- Covering your skin with clothes made with tightly-woven materials, long-sleeved shirts, hats, and sunglasses.
- Finding a shaded area under a tree, overhang, or beach umbrella.
How to wear sunscreen properly
Applying sunscreen can lower your risk of skin cancer by up to 50% by — as long as you wear it correctly.
Here's how and when to apply sunscreen:
- Wear sunscreen daily: There's no safe weather or amount of time to spend out and about without sunscreen — you can even get burned by UV rays through your window.
- Choose SPF 15 - 60: Opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15, which blocks 93% of the sun's UVB rays.
- Use the right amount: Apply at least two tablespoons of sunscreen lotion to your body and face. If you're using a sunscreen spray or mist, keep going until you get a reflective sheen across your body.
- Remember to reapply: You'll need more at least every two hours, but reapply more frequently if you swim or sweat off your sunscreen.
- Be consistent: Forgetting to reapply sunscreen, or not wearing enough of it, means you'll have less sun protection than the SPF listed on your sunscreen label.
Make sure, too, that your sunscreen hasn't expired, and that you follow the label instructions to store it properly. Sunscreen has a shelf life of only 3 years, but that timeframe shortens if you expose it to high temperatures by leaving it outside or in a hot car.
Best sunscreens
For the best protection, choosing the right sunscreen can be as important as applying it correctly. Here are some of the best sunscreens we've tested for all different skin types and tones:
- Best overall: Supergoop PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50, from $10 at Supergoop
- Best facial sunscreen: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, $34.99 at Amazon
- Best on a budget: Thinksport's SPF 50+ Sunscreen, $16.79 at Amazon
- Best spray-on: Supergoop Mineral Sunscreen Mist, $34 at Supergoop
- Best waterproof: Manda's SPF 50 Organic Sun Paste with Thanaka, $28 at Amazon
Insider's takeaway
While sunscreen does limit your tanning ability, you may still get a light tan from the mild rays that filter through your sunscreen. Self-tanners and salon spray tans can help you achieve a more noticeable look.
That said, experts agree you should skip the all-natural approach to tanning to protect yourself from blisters, burns, and skin cancer. If you want to prevent tanning altogether, wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen daily and covering up when you go outside can help.