I tanned through sunscreen the last time I was in the US to visit some family and we went on a beach holiday. I was using sunscreen I bought in the USA that time.

I never tan when I use the sunscreen I buy in Europe. And I have heard that our sunscreen is better.

Maybe buy sunscreen from outside of the US?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who told you sunscreen prevents tanning?!

This! Are people really this ignorant.

+2

I wear sunblock year round and am still multiple shades darker in the summer.

I also wear a UPF 50 rated wide brim hat and am always in the shade whenever possible. It blocks harmful UV rays, not the actual sun. If you tan easily, you will still tan.

Actually if you are wearing high enough sunscreen and taking care, no you should not be tanning. Sorry people, you're doing it wrong.

Agreed. You need WAY more sunscreen than you think. You are probably applying far less than is required in order to get the advertised SPF. You need between 1/4 and 1/2 of a teaspoon of sunscreen for your face to get the full protection of the advertised SPF. I've measured this out (both 1/4 teaspoon and 1/2 teaspoon) and it is A LOT. I aim to apply 1/4 teaspoon of SPF 50 mineral sunscreen every morning to my face and I reapply throughout the day. I also wear a hat every time I am outside for an extended period of time. I went to the pool all the time over the summer and went to the beach several times and I did't tan or burn at all.

For your body, most adults need about 1 oz of sunscreen to get the advertised SPF. Trust me, it is A LOT. Most people apply far too little, which is why they still tan or burn even when applying suncreen.

Anonymous wrote:Some sun is good for you. Just relax. There is a seriously vitamin d deficiency in our country. It’s ok to get some.

There is no clinical evidence that regular users of sunscreen do not get enough vitamin D. Even consistent, properly applied sunscreen allows enough UVB for your skin to produce vitamin D.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who told you sunscreen prevents tanning?!

This! Are people really this ignorant.

+2

I wear sunblock year round and am still multiple shades darker in the summer.

I also wear a UPF 50 rated wide brim hat and am always in the shade whenever possible. It blocks harmful UV rays, not the actual sun. If you tan easily, you will still tan.

Actually if you are wearing high enough sunscreen and taking care, no you should not be tanning. Sorry people, you're doing it wrong.

Moron. It depends on your skin color.

My biracial son tans from sitting under a reading lamp.

Jeez, and here I thought I was overly anxious about sunscreen...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who told you sunscreen prevents tanning?!

This! Are people really this ignorant.

+2

I wear sunblock year round and am still multiple shades darker in the summer.

I also wear a UPF 50 rated wide brim hat and am always in the shade whenever possible. It blocks harmful UV rays, not the actual sun. If you tan easily, you will still tan.

Actually if you are wearing high enough sunscreen and taking care, no you should not be tanning. Sorry people, you're doing it wrong.

I have olive skin. I tan in the shade. I don't stress about it. Humans need a certain amount of sun exposure. Just don't overdo it.

Anonymous wrote:I also did not realize sunscreen does not prevent tanning until I had a child with my much darker skinned husband. I’m white as a sheet and don’t tan at all. The only thing that happens to me in the sun is I get a light dusting of freckles and then turn completely pink. Sunscreen prevents me from turning pink, so naturally I assumed it would protect against tanning as well. Nope! I called the dermatologist thinking I must be applying sunscreen incorrectly on my child or using an ineffective brand. She was so amused to have to tell me no, this is just how the sun works on people with actual melanin in their skin.

Me too! I have a little guy with actual melanin unlike me who is translucent- its so cute that he tans!

I also did not realize sunscreen does not prevent tanning until I had a child with my much darker skinned husband. I’m white as a sheet and don’t tan at all. The only thing that happens to me in the sun is I get a light dusting of freckles and then turn completely pink. Sunscreen prevents me from turning pink, so naturally I assumed it would protect against tanning as well. Nope! I called the dermatologist thinking I must be applying sunscreen incorrectly on my child or using an ineffective brand. She was so amused to have to tell me no, this is just how the sun works on people with actual melanin in their skin.

I'm more tan this summer WFH than I have been in years and I am much better at clothes, sunscreen and shade as I've aged. It happens. I think it also depends on your genetics to some degree, my family is all Sicilian- we get tanlines going to the mail box is the joke.

Sunscreen doesn’t block 100% of UV rays, so you will still tan if out in the sun.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your sunscreen doesn't protect against UVA very well. UVA rays cause tanning, among other things.

Avobenzone is one of the only chemical UVA filters available in the US and it is not very photostable which means it degrades quickly when exposed to sunlight.

Personnally, I use sunscreens that contain better UVA filters such as Tinosorb S and M, Mexoryl XL, etc.

Where do you buy sunscreens with these ingredients? I’d love to try them but I didn’t think they were available in the U.S.

I live in Canada.

Anonymous wrote:Your sunscreen doesn't protect against UVA very well. UVA rays cause tanning, among other things.

Avobenzone is one of the only chemical UVA filters available in the US and it is not very photostable which means it degrades quickly when exposed to sunlight.

Personnally, I use sunscreens that contain better UVA filters such as Tinosorb S and M, Mexoryl XL, etc.

Where do you buy sunscreens with these ingredients? I’d love to try them but I didn’t think they were available in the U.S.

Have you never been out in the sun before and observed your skin? I always tan in the sun, never burn, but tan no matter how much suncreen I use or whether I have a hat or try to stay in the shade (indirect sunlight will do it too). Some people just tan really easily. Same with my kids.

As my dermatologist said, "it's called sunscreen. It's just a screen. Not a block."