Can you tan with SPF 50?

Does SPF 50 prevent tanning?

SPF 50 reduces UV exposure rather than eliminating it. UVA contributes to tanning, skin ageing and skin cancer; UVB is the main cause of sunburn and can also cause darker pigmentation. Sunscreens are sometimes called "sunblock", a name doing rather more work than the product.1

The SPF number measures protection against UVB, not UVA. Choose broad spectrum SPF 50 for protection against both. On UK sunscreens, look for at least 4 stars for UVA protection; UVA inside a circle indicates that the product meets the EU standard. SPF and UVA ratings measure different kinds of protection, because apparently one number was too much to ask of a sunscreen label.3

How long can you stay in the sun?

SPF 50 does not mean you can stay outside 50 times longer. SPF measures the amount of solar energy needed to cause sunburn, not a safe number of minutes. Sun intensity changes with location and time of day, so the same exposure can accumulate much faster at midday than early in the morning. Your skin type, how much sunscreen you apply and how often you reapply also affect protection. Do not extend your time in the sun because you are wearing sunscreen.45

How to use SPF 50 properly

1. 1Check the expiry information and choose water resistant sunscreen if you expect to swim or sweat.
2. 2If you will be outside long enough to risk burning, apply sunscreen 30 minutes before leaving, then again just before going out.
3. 3Cover all exposed skin, including your face, neck and ears. Adults need around 6 to 8 teaspoons for the whole body. Applying a thin layer reduces protection.
4. 4Reapply generously every 2 hours and follow the product directions. Reapply straight after swimming, towel drying or sweating, and whenever sunscreen has rubbed off.

Use sunscreen alongside shade and clothing, not instead of them. Reduce exposure during peak sunshine hours, roughly 10am to 4pm in summer. Wear tightly woven clothing that covers more skin, a hat that shades your face and neck, and sunglasses with UV protection. Apply sunscreen daily when the UV index is 3 or higher.56

What if you notice a tan afterwards?

UV exposure increases melanin, the pigment that colours skin, in an attempt to protect against further damage. Darkening can develop over the next 48 hours. Sunburn can also take 6 to 48 hours to show its full effects, so the absence of immediate redness is not a reliable signal to keep sunbathing.2

Can you get the colour without UV tanning?

Sunless tanning lotions, gels and sprays temporarily colour the skin, which lets the holiday look arrive without booking the holiday. They do not protect against sunburn, so you still need sunscreen. A base tan offers only modest protection, roughly equivalent to SPF 3 to 4, and is no replacement for sunscreen. Sunbeds and tanning booths also emit UV radiation; there is no safe form of UV tanning.57

When should you stop sun exposure?

Leave the sun if skin becomes unusually warm, tender, painful or flushed. Cool sunburn with cool water and stay out of the sun until redness has gone. Seek medical help for bad swelling, blistering or feeling unwell. Extensive blistering with headache, fever or chills needs urgent medical attention.23