Back when I first began addressing the issue of tanning, my girl Emily (aka my go-to beauty expert) told me that there was an article about tanning in the latest issue of Allure.
The other day I finally picked up a copy and was so excited to see how much great information was provided. I even caught myself highlighting certain phrases a la my college days 
I’m going to do my best to point out what I thought was some of the most interesting and helpful advice provided in the article, titled Sun Haze.
“When ultraviolet rays burn us, they a) suppress the immune system of the skin, weakening its defenses against toxic pollutants, viruses, and bacteria and b) damage or cell’s DNA.”
“SPF numbers don’t tell you anything concerning protection against UVA rays…look for a sunscreen that promises broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB.”
“Never apply less than a teaspoon of sunscreen for the face…aim for at least one tablespoon for each arm and each leg and use even more on the chest and the back. The key is to slather, not just dab.”
‘The sunscreen should be applied thickly enough that it takes about five minutes to sink in…put it on about a half-hour before you go into the sun.”
“The spots we [usually] miss: the back of the neck, ears, lips, hands, upper lip, temples, between the eyes, and the tops of the feet.”
“Sunburns even once a year can increase the risk of melanoma.”
“Let’s put it this way: How bad are cigarettes, mustard gas, and arsenic? Last July, the International Agency for Research on Cancer equated tanning beds to these dangers, and added them to its highest-risk category – unequivocally carcinogenic to humans. ‘One burn in a tanning bed equals 10 to 12 sunburns,’ [David] Bank says.”
“People who use tanning beds before age 30 increase their lifetime risk of melanoma by 75 percent.”
This red box provided what I thought to be some of the most interesting information.
- “The hand lamps in nail salons emit UVA light comparable to that of tanning beds, according to an article in Archives of Dermatology.”
- “Dark skin is susceptible. When melanoma is diagnosed, it tends to be more likely to have dangerously spread in African-American and Hispanic people, a study has shown.”
- “Exercise and caffeine consumption may reduce sun damage, research suggests. These behaviors seem to increase the destruction of UV-injured cells that could otherwise turn cancerous.”
- “Diet may help avert the recurrence of skin cancer. Among people with a history of skin cancer, eating about one ounce of leafy green vegetables per day on average was associated with a 54 percent reduced risk of squamous-cell carcinoma.”
The article also suggested the following skin-care products for sun damage protection/repair.
….I’m personally interested in the Coppertone Sensitive Skin Faces and Skineuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense. The oil and stickiness of sunscreen is what I dislike the most, so I’m glad to see products coming out that are more application-friendly =)
I hope you all found this article helpful! If you want more information feel free to email me, or pick up your own copy of this month’s Allure!
Newman, J. (2010, May). Sun haze. Allure, 114-122. Contributing health experts: David Bank, Linda Franks, David J. Leffell, Ellen Marmur, Robert Schiestl, Ava Shamban, Howard Sobel.
- Did you learn anything new from that article?
- Do you wear sunscreen? Be honest!
That is a great article! I didn’t know that one burn in a tanning bed is equal to 10-12 burns. Good thing that when I did go in tanning beds I never got burnt!
Great recap. I think it’s always funny when experts say we should use a shot glass full of sunscreen over our entire bodies. I know for some people who don’t use sunscreen that’s a lot, but no way it covers my entire body!
I saw a blip of this show on TLC called “My Strange Addiction”. This one girl was OBSESSED with tanning. She knew that having a tan was really important and anyone without a tan isn’t beautiful. She said she doesn’t smoke or do drugs, but just tans. She’d rather know she’d die from tanning on her quest for beauty than dying from another thing. That girl is sick… and she looks like an oompa loompa.
I used to be OBSESSED with being tan… I only had a short tanning bed phase of about a month (they scare me to death) but as soon as April/May rolled around and the sun started to poke out, I’d be stretched out in my back yard on a towel every chance I got.
Lately, though, I’ve been OBSESSED with sunscreen. I think it has come along with my passions for health and natural radiance… and the fact that I don’t want to age prematurely! Whenever we go on a sunny vacation nowadays, I’ve got at least SPF 50 on my face and a wide-brimmed hat. And my daily face moisturizer has SPF in it too.
Such a great series you’re doing!
I don’t wear sunscreen. I know I should but I always forget! Plus the rays in Minnesota are not nearly as strong as you would think…
All that info is so scary to me. I’ve been burned many times before and I tanned up until my freshman year of college!
but yes I do wear sunscreen everyday on my face, neck and hands! Gotta keep the wrinkles away.
I wear a minimum of SPF 15 every day on my face. Neutrogena makes a great daily defense moisturizer with several levels of SPF protection. We give all of our patients samples of the 45 version. And it’s really important to look for sunscreen that has a broad specturm to prevent UVA and UVB rays from damaging skin.
once again, such a great post! My daily face and body moisturizers are SPF 15 but now I wonder if it’s really doing any good since I don’t slather on that much and if the SPF is overpowered by the regular lotion, ya know?
Great article review! I had never heard that a healthy lifestyle (diet/exercise) could possibly avert skin cancer…Very interesting!
My dad is a dermatologist and I told him about your blog and “Tan-Free Tuesdays.” He was excited to learn that there are girls like you promoting skin safety and cancer awareness. I told him that he should give his patients the link to your blog! I hope that’s okay!
@Sara @ Fro Yo Foodie – oh, of course that’s okay!
Thanks lady!! xoxo
My freshman year of college I tanned in the tanning booth nearly every day. I am now covered with what looks like freckles but are really moles (as my dermatologist informed me). I LOVED the tanning bed- even now I can’t go because I know I’ll just want to keep tanning.
But I’ve completely damaged my skin. Now, almost 10 years later, I cover up with sunblock every single day- sometimes twice a day (since I do live in South FL).
Thanks so much for sharing this article!! I loved the advice. I always knew how dangerous the sun could be but the bit about burns being as bad for you as cigarettes, arsenic, etc combined made me really shocked. I’m going to slather myself in sunscreen from now on. And check out the self tanners you mentioned a while back!
Ughhhh, I hate that I went to tanning beds in high school. Awfulll. At least I stopped and am now embracing my paleness.
YES…I’m wary of fake self tanners too though…i’ve heard mixed stuff about the chemicals and toxicity…what do you think?
@eatmovelove – Hm, I haven’t thought much about it, but that’s a really good question. In fact, I think I’m going to do some research and try to find an article about that for next week. Thanks so much for the suggestion!! xoxo
I love that you do Tan Free Tuesdays. Every week I get something new out of it. I had no clue one burn in a tanning bed was equal oto 10-12 burns in the sun.
I need to pick up a copy of Allure…now that it’s summer, I can finally read mags again guilt-free
Thanks for the info!!
Honestly, I only wear a moisturizer with spf 15 on my face. I normally don’t cover the rest of my body unless I plan to be out for a long time–like at the beach, lake, river, outdoor event, etc.
Oh gosh, thanks for sharing this. Although I don’t lay in the tanning bed now I did for a long time in high school/college. I don’t even want to think about the damage that I did to my skin. And its crazy to think that tanning beds are as dangerous as cigarettes! Ridiculous!
Ive got to be honest, I don’t wear sunscreen but after reading this, I’m pretty sure I need to!
Bob Marley died of Melanoma right ?`:,