Common Myths About Tanning and Sun Protection

Half the battle in knowing how to properly protect oneself from skin cancer is being able to separate fact from fiction. The American Academy of Dermatology sets the record straight on some of the most common myths about tanning and sun protection.

Myth: African Americans don’t tan or get sunburned.

Fact: Darker skin does provide some protection from the sun's UV rays, but don't count on it alone. Skin cancer is ten times more common in whites, but blacks have a 78 percent lower survival rate. Begin each day by applying a sunscreen or moisturizer with an SPF 15 to 30. And reapply sun protection often while you're in direct sunlight.

Otis Brawley, M.D., medical oncologist, cancer epidemiologist and chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, says that he sees very few dark skinned people with melanoma (skin cancer); however, he gives the same advice to light-skinned black people as he does to whites. “When people with a light complexion type go out in the sun, they need to use sun protection to avoid getting sunburned.”

Myth: It is smarter to tan indoors using a tanning bed.

Fact: The United States Department of Health and Human Services and the International Agency of Research on Cancer panel has declared UV radiation from the sun and artificial light sources, such as tanning beds and sun lamps, as a known carcinogen. Indoor tanning equipment, which includes all artificial light sources, emits UVA and UVB radiation. It has been shown that the amount of the radiation produced during indoor tanning is similar to the sun, and in some cases might be stronger.

Myth: A sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 provides twice the protection as an SPF 15.

Fact: Contrary to popular belief, UVB protection from the sun’s burning rays does not actually increase proportionately with a designated SPF number. For example, an SPF of 30 screens 97 percent of UVB rays, whereas an SPF of 15 screens 93 percent of UVB rays, and an SPF of 2 screens 50 percent of UVB rays.

 “No sunscreen can provide 100 percent UVB protection, but using a higher SPF provides greater UVB protection than a lower SPF,” said dermatologist Zoe D. Draelos, MD, FAAD, consulting professor at Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C. “It’s important to remember sunscreen must be reapplied regularly and be part of an overall sun-protection plan that includes hats, sunglasses, protective clothing and seeking shade.”

For more information on skin care, contact the American Academy of Dermatology at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.