{"id":149353,"date":"2019-05-01T05:00:14","date_gmt":"2019-05-01T09:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?post_type=school-college-post&p=149353"},"modified":"2019-05-01T09:37:51","modified_gmt":"2019-05-01T13:37:51","slug":"fallacy-healthy-tan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2019\/05\/fallacy-healthy-tan\/","title":{"rendered":"The Fallacy of the Healthy Tan"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dr.
Dr. Jane Grant-Kels, UConn Health dermatologist and skin cancer expert. (UConn Health photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you come back from vacation with your skin bronzed from relaxing in the sun, you\u2019re likely to hear someone describe you as having a \u201chealthy tan.\u201d<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s highly unlikely you\u2019ll ever hear a dermatologist use those words.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you get a tan, your skin is screaming out, \u2018Stop!\u2019\u201d says Dr. Jane Grant-Kels<\/a>, a UConn Health dermatologist and nationally recognized skin cancer expert. \u201cIt\u2019s creating color to protect itself. There really is no such thing as a safe or healthy tan.\u201d<\/p>\n

American physicians diagnose approximately five million skin cancers a year, many of which could have been prevented, albeit years ago, by taking steps to reduce exposure to the sun\u2019s ultraviolet rays.<\/p>\n

Sun Safety Steps<\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t skimp on the sunscreen:<\/strong>\u00a0Start with at least 1 ounce (think shot glass) to cover your entire skin surface. And you\u2019ll need to reapply every two hours, or sooner after swimming or heavy perspiration. \u201cThat means a tube of sunscreen shouldn\u2019t last a whole summer; it should last probably a weekend if used properly,\u201d Grant-Kels says. \u201cAnd it doesn\u2019t give you permission to lay in the sun all day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Preferred products:<\/strong> Use sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) rating of at least 30 (SPF goes up to 100, which is more protective than 30, but not three times as protective, so don\u2019t pay three times the price). \u201cI recommend a total block, which means UV-A and UV-B, and water-resistant,\u201d Grant-Kels says. Creams are better than lotions, wipes or sprays. And if you\u2019re concerned about the environment, use physical sunscreens that deflect the sun\u2019s rays, such as those that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, rather than the chemical sunscreens that absorb the sun\u2019s rays.<\/p>\n

What to Wear:<\/strong> Sun-protective clothing is now available \u2013 some even have an SPF rating. They\u2019re usually tightly woven but lightweight with ventilation. And you don\u2019t have to re-apply, which gives them an advantage over sunscreens. Even some bathing suits are made from sun-protective fabric. \u201cAnd wearing a hat with a 4-inch brim is, I think, mandatory, especially for people when they\u2019re outdoors for long periods of time,\u201d Grant-Kels says.<\/p>\n

Skin Surveillance<\/h2>\n

Another preventive step is self checks, monitoring your skin for new or changing discolorations. A simple way to remember the characteristics of suspicious lesions is to keep the first five letters of the alphabet in mind.<\/p>\n