10 Out Of 10 Would Not Recommend A Tan
Let me start by saying this post is about three months too late. But as I sit here with fall just around the corner, I can’t help but reflect on ALL things I’ve heard about tanning and sunscreen this summer. As an aesthetician, I have a more in-depth knowledge & respect for our largest organ (the skin) than the average person. Not throwing any shade or judgment! This was not always the case. As a teenager, I was a lifeguard and would lay out in the sun all summer long while wearing SPF 4 tanning lotion – if I could only go back in time and bitch slap myself (for that & maybe a few other things too).
To make up for my past skin sins, I am passing on my knowledge to you. Please, I beg of you, do better than I did!
“What is a tan?” A tan is nothing less than DNA damage at a cellular level of your skin. There’s a much more sophisticated and scientific way that I could explain this, but to keep it simple, you’re pretty much slow-roasting your epidermis (topmost layer of your skin). Research shows that 80%-90% of skin aging is due to sun exposure.
“Are there safe ways to tan?” Nope. Sorry, I know that’s not what you want to hear, but that’s the truth. There is no such thing as a “Safe Tan,” and don’t even get me started on a “Base Tan.” Even if you have a dark skin tone, there is no safe tanning. Period. Any way you dress it up, you are damaging your skin cells, diminishing the natural supply of Elasticity & Collagen in your skin, speeding up aging, and increasing your chances of Skin Cancer (Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and Melanoma)! Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans will get a form of skin cancer in their lifetime. Don’t panic! Wear your SPF and keep on keeping on.
“Once the redness goes away, I can get a good color without burning!” Ehhhh…no. Sun damage is cumulative. This means all the damage you have done to your skin doesn’t simply go away. It accumulates and shows up later in life. Yes, this includes your childhood. Sorry to everyone born before 2018 (when people started to care about skincare). This is why so many people only start to see sun damage around their 30s, 40s, or even 50s+. Think of your skin as vengeful, and it’s plotting its revenge on you.
“I don’t wear sunscreen. That stuff will give you cancer.” Ya’llllllllllll, this triggers me. I’m triggered! Someone hold my earrings because I’m about to go OFF!! There are no studies that back this up with actual hard science. The “studies” out there about sunscreens causing any types of cancers are observational researches. Meaning they don’t necessarily have scientific backing; they simply connected some dots and made observations based on those dots. Are there some sunscreens that have harmful ingredients in them? Absolutely. Should anyone use those? No. However, they are not the only products out there that have been linked to harmful ingredients. Detergents, perfumes, lotions, soaps, food, alcohol, soil, water, etc., have all been under scrutiny in the past for potentially being linked to carcinogens. Be aware of fear-mongering.
“If you wear sunscreen every day, you’ll be deficient in Vitamin D.” Did you know that you only need roughly 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure a WEEK to meet your intake of Vitamin D? Safe to say that even if you’re an avid SPF wearer you’ll still meet this quota. Also, there are other ways to retain Vit D in our bodies, aside from sun exposure. I’m not going to go into specific details because I’m not a licensed professional in this area of expertise, but this can be easily achieved through diet & supplements (reach out to your doctor to know more).
“Tanning beds are a safer way of tanning.” N to the O, NOOOO!! You’re chances of having some form of skin cancer skyrocket once you add a tanning bed into your life. Again, no shade! I used tanning beds between the ages of 15-17 because I wanted to look HAWT for my Frosty Frolic pics. As if my thin eyebrows, colored leggings, and chunky rings weren’t already going to guarantee that. The fact is, tanning beds use UVA & UVB rays, but mostly UVAs, which don’t help the body produce any vitamin D at all. You are essentially burning your flesh at an accelerated rate with zero benefits whatsoever to your health. Be better than 16 year old me!!
I’m all for everyone doing their research, and making their own informed decision as to what is best for them and their loved ones. All I’m saying is to let the facts speak louder than your fears. Skin cancer is preventable and it is treatable if caught early on. Take a breath and make informed decisions. Schedule yearly check-ups with your Dermatologists. Wear protective clothing & SPF daily. Eat a healthy whole foods diet and exercise regularly to get that natural glow. And if you still crave the sunkissed look, switch to sunless tanning products. They come in many forms like foams, sprays, lotions & potions!! Shop around, do your research, and stay safe!
For more information about UV rays, read my Blog “UVA & UVB Rays, And Their Effect On Our Skin”
XO – Pachee
