Is It Safer to Get a Good Base Tan or to Avoid Sun and Tanning Beds?

Even a tan is a sign of skin damage.

Gradually Change Your Skin Tone

Some people feel that if you take the time to gradually build a tan, as opposed to simply lying in the sun for hours after a long time out of the sun, it will make it easier on your skin and you will be less likely to burn.

Even a Tan is Damage

Dermatologists agree that even a "healthy" tan is a sign that you have damaged your skin. No amount of unprotected exposure to UV light is safe for your skin. However, the sun tends to give less of these harmful rays than a tanning bed, so the sun would be considered safer.

Bottom Line

There is no hard evidence that building a base tan is healthier for your skin, but if you do feel the need to get a base tan, it is much better for your skin to do so in the sun than in a tanning bed. You should always wear some kind of sunblock or sunscreen if you will have sun exposure.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Sunburn: Does a 'base tan' prevent sunburn?
• Health Central: Does Getting a "Base Tan" from a Tanning Bed Protect Your Skin from Sun Damage?
• Newsweek: Does a 'Base Tan' Protect You From Sunburn?