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Tanning: Does a 'base tan' prevent sunburn?
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tanning/AN00589
- With Mayo Clinic dermatologist
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Dr. Lawrence Gibson likens bad health information on the Internet to food poisoning.
Consumers, he says, need to be aware and will find reliable information at MayoClinic.com.
Dr. Gibson, a Covington, Ky., native, has been with Mayo Clinic since 1986 and is board certified in dermatology, dermatopathology and immunodermatology. He is a professor of dermatology at Mayo Medical School and a consultant in the Department of Dermatology.
Dr. Gibson has served as the fellowship director for dermatopathology and as chair of the Laboratory Division in the Department of Dermatology. He is especially interested in inflammatory disorders of the skin, including vasculitis, and in lymphoma affecting the skin.
"Electronic information has become a staple in the diet of a health conscious society," he says. "It's important to avoid misinformation and provide a credible source for health information. Using this analogy, it's critical to avoid 'indigestion' or, worse yet, 'food poisoning' by the ingestion of tainted information."
Treatments and drugs (1)
- Sunburn treatment: Do I need medical attention?
Prevention (4)
- Tanning: Does a 'base tan' prevent sunburn?
- Does sunscreen expire?
- Tanning beds: Safer than the sun?
- see all in Prevention
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Question
Tanning: Does a 'base tan' prevent sunburn?
Should I go to a tanning salon before a sunny vacation to help prevent sunburn?
Answer
from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Many people go to tanning salons to get a so-called "base tan" before leaving on a beach vacation. The theory behind this is a few sessions of indoor tanning will protect your skin from sunburn. But there's little evidence that this is true.
Tanning under the sun or a sunlamp gives protection that is equivalent to a sun protection factor (SPF) of 4 or less, which translates into a little extra time in the sun before you start to burn. But the larger issue is that any change in skin color is a sign of damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Repeated exposure to UV radiation — whether from the sun or a tanning bed — increases your risk of premature skin aging and skin cancer.
To prevent sunburn and other skin conditions, use these sun protection methods:
- Avoid extended sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The sun's rays are much stronger during these hours.
- Cover up. Wear tightly woven clothing that covers your arms and legs and a broad-brimmed hat. Clothing specifically designed to protect from UV exposure is also available.
- Use sunscreen frequently and liberally. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply about every two hours.
Some people have medical conditions, such as polymorphous light eruption, that may require small, incremental exposures to UV light before a vacation to prevent flare-ups. Talk to your doctor before beginning a regimented sunbathing program if you need to treat or prevent a skin condition.
Next questionDoes sunscreen expire?
- Brice S, et al. Sunburn. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 28, 2011.
- Be sun smart. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/skin-care-and-safety/skin-cancer-prevention/be-sun-smart/be-sun-smart. Accessed May 5, 2011.
- Sivamani RK, et al. The benefits and risks of ultraviolet tanning and its alternatives: The role of prudent sun exposure. Dermatology Clinics. 2009;27:149.
- Levine JA, et al. The indoor UV tanning industry: A review of skin cancer risk, health benefit claims, and regulation. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2005;53:1038.
- Hawk JL, et al. Abnormal responses to ultraviolet radiation: Idiopathic, probably immunologic, and photo-exacerbated. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2979797. Accessed May 5, 2011.
- Indoor tanning. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/prevention-and-care/indoor-tanning. Accessed May 5, 2011.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 8, 2011.
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