There are many misconceptions about sunscreen and its effect on tanning. Many people skip sun protection to get a tan, mistakenly believing that sunscreen prevents tanning altogether. They also might assume a sunburn will always turn into a tan, which is untrue and unsafe¹. 
 
This article will explain the relationship between tanning and sunscreen, and the importance of applying SPF when exposed to the sun. 

The short answer is yes. Don’t assume that just because you’re wearing sunscreen that you’re completely protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays. While it’s common knowledge that getting a sunburn is a sign of sun damage, many people don’t realize that tanning is also a sign of sun damage².  

Since sunscreen helps to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays, you can help prevent sunburn and tanning, to an extent. Choosing a sunscreen with a high SPF can stop a higher percentage of UV rays from the sun, but no sunscreen, no matter how high the SPF, can stop 100% of the sun’s harmful rays.  

This means that areas of skin exposed to the sun, even when wearing sunscreen, can be vulnerable to tanning, particularly if sunscreen is inadequately or improperly applied. 

The sun produces invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation that causes damage to the skin resulting in a tan or burn. Two types of the sun’s UV rays damage your skin:  

• UVA Rays: These have a longer wavelength and are the main cause of tanning and photoaging of the skin. Photoaging is responsible for 90% of visible changes in the skin.  
• UVB Rays: These have a shorter wavelength and are the primary cause of sunburns³.  

Exposure to UVA and UVB rays can lead to signs of premature aging and have also been shown to increase the risk of skin cancer⁴. 

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and is a measure of how well a sunscreen protects your skin from UVB rays. The higher the SPF, the greater percentage of UVB rays are stopped, but no sunscreen can stop 100% of the sun’s harmful rays. 

How much do different SPF amounts stop the sun’s rays? 

• SPF 30 stops up to 97% of UVB rays⁵ 
• SPF 50 stops up to 98% of UVB rays⁵ 
• As SPFs get higher, the protection percentage is marginally higher, but never 100%.  

This means that a small percentage of UVB rays will still reach your skin despite wearing sunscreen, so it will not prevent tanning completely.  

Can you still get a sunburn even with a high SPF? 

Yes. With SPF 30, for example, it will take roughly 30 times longer to burn than if you leave yourself unprotected in the sun⁶, assuming it is correctly applied. This often gives people a false sense of confidence as improper or inadequate application of sunscreen is common, and people may stay out in the sun longer without reapplying or taking other sun protection measures, falsely assuming they’re adequately protected the whole time. 

How to get the most out of your SPF?

In order to help protect your skin from sun damage, use sunscreen every day and ensure that you apply enough sunscreen, reapply at least every 2 hours, and right after getting wet or toweling off, and use sunscreen in conjunction with other sun protection measures such as wearing protective clothing, seeking shade, and avoiding sun exposure during peak hours of the day. 

 

UVA and UVB rays are harmful to your skin and exposing your skin to the sun without sunscreen leaves it vulnerable to UV-induced damage. Sunburn can have multiple negative consequences, both short and long-term, affecting both your health and self-esteem. 
 
In the short term, tanning without sunscreen can lead to a sunburn and cause redness and discomfort and, if severe, even blistering and peeling.  

Longer term, tanning without sunscreen can contribute to signs of premature skin aging such as dryness, wrinkles, sun-induced dark spots and uneven skin tone. As mentioned, UVA and UVB exposure also increases your risk of developing skin cancer.  

Sunscreen should be used every day because our skin isn’t only affected by the sun on warm, sunny days. UV rays are present all day, every day. So, regardless of the weather, even on rainy or overcast days, it is highly important to your health that you wear sunscreen when spending time outside. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen (meaning it helps protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays) with an SPF of 30 or higher and follow directions for use, reapplying regularly. 

In addition to wearing sunscreen, take other sun protection measures such as wearing long pants, long sleeves, hats, sunglasses, and other protective clothing when possible, seeking shade when spending time outdoors, and avoiding direct sun exposure during peak hours of the day.  

Formulated to protect against both UVA and UVB rays, Eucerin Sun Advanced Hydration Ultra-Light Fluid SPF 50 Face Sunscreen has an ultra-light fluid texture and weightless, invisible finish suitable for daily use under makeup, helping to defend against long-term sun damage.* 

*Use and reapply as directed with other sun protection measures (see Drug Facts Box). 

Apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before you go outside to ensure that it has had adequate time to protect your skin⁷. Re-apply every two hours when out in the sun, or more regularly if you’re swimming, perspiring or towelling off.  

Everyone’s skin is different, so it is important to choose the right sunscreen for your skin’s unique needs. Eucerin’s sun protection range offers a variety of sunscreens to suit different skin types, from sunscreen for oily skin, to hydrating sunscreen for dry skin, sunscreen for sensitive skin, and sunscreen to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Find the right Eucerin sunscreen for you. 

The information provided herein is not intended to be medical advice. Nor is it intended to treat an underlying skin disease or condition. The information is provided for educational purposes only on the benefits of sunscreen usage.