Sun -Safety - Sun Damage

(Mo)

Hello, I love your website and appreciate your advice! This is kind of a crazy question but I have always wondered if it is damaging for your skin to tan when you have sun block on? Whenever I use a high SPF 50-80 or so my skin tans without burning. So is it okay to tan skin if you have sun block on?

Hi There,

Thanks for your email and your kind compliment.

You asked a great question! Any type of tanning (whether you burn or not) is damaging to the skin. The reason why you tan and not burn using a sunscreen, is because it blocks some of the sun's rays and allows you to tan slower and more gradual. But just remember, anytime your skin changes color from sun exposure (tan or burn) it's the skin's natural reaction/protection against damage. So there is no Safe tanning.

On another note - there is some question as to how safe sunscreens are! Which I found pretty scary because I assumed I was doing a "good thing" for my skin by slathering on tons of sunscreen - even though I hate the way they all feel.

Well, recently, I came across some very interesting research about the safety of most common sunscreens. The study questioned the chemical type sunblocks and found that 5 common chemicals found in most common sunscreens actually might cause cell damage, DNA damage, disrupt estrogen levels and even cause cancer!

click here Sun Safety to read more.

I hope I've answered your question.

Thanks,
Linda