How can I tan without burning?

Do spray tans protect you against the sun's potentially harmful effect?

Does sunblock prevent tanning?

These are some of the questions that my patients ask me on a daily basis, during the summertime.

And since we're in mid-summer… I decided to write this article that tackles all of your concerns.

So… in that spirit, you should know that, simply put, the answer is no. Going to a tanning salon won't prevent you from getting sunburnt. Not even getting a tan from natural sunlight will prevent any future sunburns. That is nothing more than a myth.

Let me explain why.

Getting tanned won't actually provide you with any sort of protection, because the benefits of being tanned are not skin deep. A tan does not act as a shield against the UV rays.

In fact, researchers at Yale discovered that a tan is equivalent to a sun protection factor of 3 or less. That's pretty much useless in terms of defending your skin against the damaging UV rays.

Because, a tan in itself is a damage to your skin - caused by exposure to either natural or artificial sunlight.

Within minutes from exposing yourself to the sun, the radiation rays can damage your DNA structure and cause skin cancer.

David Leffell, the chief of dermatologic surgery and cutaneous oncology at Yale University School of Medicine, said that getting a base tan is "completely meaningless" when it comes to providing skin protection.

The more you damage it (going to the beach without actually using protection), the more the risk of getting skin cancer increases. And you'll also facilitate and accelerate the aging of your skin.

So what can you do to prevent sunburns?

The only thing designed to completely prevent skin damage is the sunscreen. Also known as sunblock, it is the only thing that prevents UV rays from sunburning your skin.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.

Also, make sure you apply sunscreen before exposing yourself to the UVs - it's best to do it 15-30 minutes prior to going out into the sun, so that your skin can have time to properly absorb the sunblock.

Make sure you reapply it every two hours, so you'll be constantly protected by that sunblock shield.