Its totally understandable to want to get a little darker during the summer, but that doesnt give you license to lie out for hours.
"Even if youre using an SPF of 30 or higher and reapplying properly, youll still get a little color, says Doris Day, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in NYC. "Sunscreen isn't an impenetrable formula, meaning the sun's rays can still reach your skin, causing melanin to produce and a tan to occur. But applying sunblock is still necessary. You need to protect your skin from the less beautiful, incredibly harmful things that can happen to your body from being out in the sun.
So what is actually happening when you sit in the sun? Dr. Day breaks it all down below.
1. You're damaging your DNA.
There are two different types of rays that reach our skin: UVB and UVA. UVB rays are shorter wavelengths of light, so they penetrate to the bottom layer of our epidermis called the basal layer. This layer contains small, round cells called basal cells that continually divide, allowing our skin to regenerate every 28 days. But when you're in the sun unprotected, the UVB rays hit the dividing cells and cause DNA damage. Additionally, the sun triggers melanocyte cells that stimulate melanin production (this gives your skin pigment) to rise to the top of your basal layer to protect your DNA. All you end up seeing is a tan, but what's really going on is your body is freaking out because it's being burned, so it goes into protection mode. That's why it's so important to wear SPF.
2. You're prematurely aging your skin.
UVA rays are longer wavelengths of light that penetrate more deeply into the layers of your skin where the collagen and elastin tissue (what gives your skin structure) live. The rays cause the collagen and elastin to break down, which leaves you with less firm skin.
3. Your cells are turning cancerous.
When you get sunburned, your skin goes through a repair process where it has to decide whether or not the affected cell is too damaged to stick around or not. If the cell is beyond repair, it will choose to die. If the cell is somewhat damaged and tries to repair itself, but does so unsuccessfully, it can become defected and turn into a cancerous cell. This is where the cancers basal-cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma come from. Melanoma, on the other hand, occurs when the melanocytes get damaged and divide, which they're not meant to do, when they're stimulated from too much sun.
4. You're increasing your risk for melanoma.
If you're very fair, that means that your skin can't make the proper melanin that protects you from getting burned. So, your skin will just keep getting bombarded with UVA rays and put you at a higher risk for melanoma. That's why, regardless of whether you're light, medium, or dark-skinned, it's crucial to slather on sunscreen when you're outside. Everyone is at risk of getting burned or getting skin cancer.
5. Your skin starts to behave like old skin.
If you've ever looked at your grandma or grandpa or even your mom or dad chances are they have brown spots on their face, which is due to some melanocytes being more stimulated than others; this causes patches of pigment to crop up on their skin. But you don't have to be old to get age spots. If you're young and constantly outdoors without protection, brown spots that would otherwise show up when you're older can take real estate on your face and body skin.
6. The sun can cause broken blood vessels.
Blood vessels that are close to the surface of your skin can dilate and become visible due to the intense heat from lying out. When you're in the sun, your body tries to control its temperature, so instead of the blood vessels in your body retracting, they expand beyond the point of being able to retract in order to keep your body cool. This leaves you with thin, unsightly blood vessels usually around your nose, your cheeks, or your chest.
7. You're making your acne worse.
As your face gets red from the sun, it makes any breakouts you might already have blend in, creating the appearance of clearer skin. Instead, the sun is causing your skin to dry out and trigger more oil production, which can lead to more zits.
8. You're drying out your hair.
When you're in the the heat, the sun essentially boils water out of your hair, which makes it hard to keep your hair hydrated. If you aren't using a protector or leave-in conditioner, the sun will dry up all the moisture in your hair and leave it feeling brittle, which can lead to breakage.
9. You're changing your hair color.
If you're not protecting your hair color with a cap, scarf, or hair spritz with UV protectant in it, your brown hair will become brassy and red, your blonde hair will get blonder, and your red hair will fade especially if it's not your natural shade.
Photo credit: E+/Getty Images
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