Published: June 2023
Last Reviewed: January 2025
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 unsafe.
This article will explain that you can still achieve your ideal summer tan whilst wearing sunscreen, and the importance of applying SPF when exposed to the sun.
Our skin is often exposed to hours of sunlight. To avoid irreversible damage to the skin cells it is essential to wear sunscreen whenever you go outside, but some of us may think this will reduce our chances of getting a tan.
Understanding UVA & UVB rays
The sun produces invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation that causes your skin to tan and burn. Two types of UV rays damage your skin:
UVA and UVB rays harm the skin's DNA, leading to skin cancer and premature ageing. Learn more here.
Applying SPF 30+ protects you from 97% of UV rays, while SPF 50+ from 98%. This means that some rays will still reach your skin despite wearing sunscreen, so it will not prevent tanning completely. You will still be able to get some colour on your skin, just at a slower, more manageable rate, whilst lowering the risks of damaging your skin.
This does, however, mean that you are able to burn. With SPF 30, it will take roughly 30 times longer to burn than if you leave yourself unprotected in the sun, assuming it is correctly applied. So ensure that you reapply sunscreen to limit the damage to your skin.
When choosing a sunscreen, there are two types that help defend the skin against UV damage:
UVA and UVB rays are very harmful to your skin. Sunburn can have multiple negative consequences, both short and long-term, that can greatly affect your appearance and overall health.
In the short term, it makes the skin red, swollen, blister and very painful to touch. Tanning without sunscreen (or incorrectly-applied sunscreen) significantly increases the chances of developing hyperpigmentation (darker patches of skin), photoageing (premature skin ageing) and skin cancer later on in life.
How to stay safe in the sun
Sunscreen should be used every day because our skin isn’t only affected by the sun on holiday. UV rays and high-energy visible (HEVIS) light 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 long periods of time outside.
It is worth noting that any sort of tan from UV rays is considered sun damage. Even the strongest sunscreen does not prevent tanning, so it is always best to apply SPF 30+ or 50+. This will help your skin stay healthy and younger-looking as you age.
Formulated to protect against both UVA and UVB rays, Eucerin Sun Face Hydro Protect Ultra-Light Fluid SPF 50+ helps prevent sunburn, premature aging, and long-term skin damage caused by sun exposure.
It is recommended you apply sunscreen 30 minutes before you go outside to ensure that it has fully bonded to your skin so you get the best protection. Re-apply every two hours when out in the sun, or more regularly if you’re swimming, perspiring or towelling off. You can learn more about applying sunscreen correctly here.
Everyone’s skin is different, so it is important to choose the right sunscreen. Eucerin’s superior sun protection range contains active ingredients for specific skin conditions so all of the products are tailored to individual skin needs. Find out what sunscreen you should use here.
What type of sunscreen should I use?
This depends on your skin type and what properties you look for in sunscreen. Learn about the different types of sunscreens available to suit your skin needs here. Ultimately, the best type of sunscreen to use is one that you will apply consistently to stay protected throughout the day. Nevertheless, it is also recommended to use one with an SPF of 30 or higher and for it to be water-resistant if you will be in or around water.
Do I need to apply sunscreen if I am tanning indoors?
Indoor tanning with sunbeds can be just as harmful, if not more so, than outdoor tanning and can lead to serious skin conditions like melanoma and actinic keratosis. To avoid skin damage, it’s best to avoid tanning altogether, but if you choose to do indoor tanning, you should use a UV-protection product such as a tanning lotion. We recommend avoiding tanning beds altogether but if you choose to use one, opt for a sunscreen with a high protection factor to avoid skin damage.
What SPF is best for tanning?
As mentioned above, even the strongest sun protection will not prevent tanning as most sunscreens only go up to SPF 50+ which protects you from 98% of the suns UV light. If you decide to tan, we recommend using either SPF 30 or 50 to give your skin as much protection as possible and to reapply frequently.
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