We’ve known for decades that overexposure to the UV rays in sunlight can trigger melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. Multiple generations have grown up with that knowledge. Yet we’ve never really fallen out of love with the tan. It signifies wealth, youth, athleticism and health in our culture. Many think their body looks thinner and better-defined with a tan and feel more confident when they have that “sun-kissed glow.”
This summer social media has been elevating tanning influencers, many of them spreading misinformation and/or encouraging downright dangerous practices like flipping the UV index on its head and heading outside with little or no sunscreen when it’s at an 8 or 9 (8 and higher is considered very high to extreme). We sat down with Shelly Crossman of Chino Valley’s Dermatology by Shelly, a Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner (DCNP), to break down some of the currently circulating myths and the facts everyone needs to know about tanning.
Q: One of the oldest and most widely circulating pieces of information is about the “base tan” that supposedly protects you from getting burned. Any truth to this?
A: No. A base tan gives you roughly the same protection as an SPF of 2 to 4 — far less than what you can buy over the counter. The only way your skin tans is by damaging the DNA in your cells; a tan is actually your skin’s response to injury. And ironically, studies find that people who get a base tan before vacation end up with more sunburns, not fewer, because they feel protected and spend more time in the sun without sunscreen.
Q: Do sunscreens cause cancer?
A: This is something I hear quite a bit from patients, and I understand the concern. There is no good evidence that chemical sunscreens have ever caused cancer in a human being.
What happened is that benzene — a known carcinogen — was found as a manufacturing contaminant in some products, which were then pulled from shelves. Benzene was never an ingredient. The evidence that sunscreen prevents skin cancer is far stronger than any theoretical concern. For those still worried, I always recommend mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide — they sit on top of the skin and are not absorbed into the body.
Q: Does wearing sunscreen reduce the amount of vitamin D your body absorbs?
A: It’s a very common worry, and I get why patients ask. Sunscreen does block the UVB rays your skin uses to make vitamin D, but in practice people don’t apply enough or reapply perfectly, so they still get some UV exposure. Most studies show regular sunscreen users maintain adequate vitamin D levels, though one large trial found that very consistent high-SPF use led to modestly lower levels. The bottom line: keep wearing sunscreen for cancer prevention and talk to your doctor about whether you need a vitamin D supplement.
Q: Does spending time in the sun reduce blood pressure and heart disease risk?
A: There is early research suggesting UVA light may cause the skin to release nitric oxide, which can temporarily lower blood pressure. But the research is very preliminary — one clinical trial found blood pressure dropped briefly after UVA sessions but did not stay lower over 24 hours, and a large genetic study found no causal link between sun exposure and cardiovascular disease. Meanwhile, UV radiation is a Group 1 carcinogen. Over 92% of melanomas in the U.S. are attributable to UV exposure, and millions of non-melanoma skin cancers are diagnosed every year. Trading all of that for an unproven, temporary dip in blood pressure is not a good deal.
Q: What can you say to people who just feel better and think they look better after they have spent time in the sun and have a tan?
A: I completely understand, because I used to be one of those people. I tanned in tanning beds and laid out in the sun with baby oil before I knew what I was doing to my skin. So I’m not judging anyone — I get it. There’s a real biological reason it feels good: UV light triggers beta-endorphin release, the same feel-good chemical behind a runner’s high, binding to the same brain receptors as opioids. Studies estimate that 39% to 53% of routine tanners meet criteria for addiction. That “I just feel better” feeling is your brain’s opioid system talking, not a sign that tanning is healthy. Indoor tanning increases melanoma risk by 27%, and starting before age 30 raises it even higher. You can still enjoy being outside — I still do — but now I protect myself while I’m out there, and I encourage my patients to do the same.
Q: Do those with darker skin tones need to wear sunscreen?
A: Absolutely. Darker skin has more melanin, but more protection does not mean full protection. When melanoma occurs in Black patients, the five-year survival rate is around 59% compared to roughly 90% for White patients, largely because it’s caught later. Hispanic patients face a similar disparity at about 83% survival. Beyond cancer, visible light can trigger hyperpigmentation and melasma, and darker skin is especially vulnerable. That’s why I recommend tinted mineral sunscreens for all my patients, but especially for those with darker skin — they contain iron oxides that block visible light in addition to UV, significantly reducing hyperpigmentation and melasma recurrence compared to UV-only sunscreens.
Q: Is using sunscreen with tanning oil effective protection?
A: This sounds like a compromise but actually backfires. Sunscreen works by forming a thin, even film, and most people already apply only about half the recommended amount. Layering greasy tanning oil on top can displace the sunscreen, reduce adhesion, and cause it to come off much faster when you sweat or swim. The tanning oil itself offers essentially no UV protection — plant-based and cosmetic oils typically have SPF values between 1 and 3. You end up with weakened sunscreen underneath an oil that does nothing, and a false sense of security keeping you in the sun longer.
Q: What’s the strangest tanning myth you’ve heard of through your patients?
A: One of my patients told me they were using beef tallow as a sunblock after reading online that it works as well as any sunscreen. I appreciate that people are looking for natural alternatives — I really do — but beef tallow has no UV-filtering properties whatsoever. Researchers have tested a wide range of natural oils — coconut oil, carrot seed oil, shea butter, olive oil, — and found nearly all have SPF values between 1 and 3, essentially meaningless. I understand why people turn to the internet for health advice, but when it comes to skin cancer prevention, the stakes are too high to rely on unverified claims. If someone is concerned about conventional sunscreen ingredients, that’s a conversation worth having with your dermatology provider. There are excellent mineral options — zinc oxide and titanium dioxide — that provide real, proven protection. There’s always a safe alternative; you just have to ask.
