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SALT LAKE CITY — It’s a widely-held belief that if someone wants to protect their skin from the sun, they need a base tan. But dermatologists say that's a dangerous myth.
Dermatologists recommend people buy sunscreen with either SPF 30, or SPF 50 for fair skin. However, many people believe a base tan will protect their skin when they go outside.
Riverton Hospital Dermatologist Lana Pho, M.D., said, “That’s almost the equivalent of an SPF, a sun protective factor, of three.”
According to Pho, there really is no such thing as a “healthy glow.” What many people consider a good -looking tan, she said is just the skin producing pigment to try to protect itself from damage already done from ultraviolet rays.
“[It gives] the patient a false sense of security that they’re protecting themselves. Therefore, when they go on vacation, they incur more and more sun damage,” she said.
Related:
6 sunscreen mistakes you're making (and how to fix them)
Health experts always advise people to stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. But for most people (especially those with kids) that is unrealistic in the summer time.It’s widely known that there are two kinds of ultraviolet rays — UVA and UVB. But, it’s not commonly known how those rays can harm people in different ways. Both can potentially lead to skin cancer, but UVA rays can penetrate deeper into the skin.
“The UVA can age you. A for aging," Pho explained. "That penetrates deeper and can increase the risk of skin cancer. The UVB can burn you. B for burn.”
She said anyone planning to spend extended time outdoors needs to use broad spectrum sunscreen. In fact, she recommended people use sunscreen to protect themselves from UV rays even if they’re just taking a long road trip.
“The windshield protects you from the UVB rays. That’s why you don’t feel much of a burn when you’re in a car. But, it does not protect you from the UVA," Pho said.
She also recommended people avoid sun exposure between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are most intense.
