Suntanning with sunscreens: a comparison with sunbed tanning. Issue 6 (23rd July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Diffey, Brian L.; Osterwalder, Uli; Herzog, Bernd
• Is Part Of: Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine. Volume 31:Issue 6(2015)
• Page Start: 307
• Page End: 314
• Publication Date: 2015-07-23
• Subjects: Photosensitivity disorders -- Periodicals; Dermatology -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/phpp.12190
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0905-4383

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="phpp12190-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="phpp12190-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background/Purpose</title> <p>Acquiring a tanned skin, either by sunbathing, sunbed use, or a combination of both, is a desirable objective for many people. The objective here was to compare the ultraviolet (UV) exposure resulting from a 2‐week vacation spent sunbathing with sunscreen‐protected skin, with that from a typical course of 10 sessions on a sunbed.</p> </sec> <sec id="phpp12190-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A numerical analysis combining data on sunlight and sunbed UV levels, time spent tanning and spectral absorption properties of different types of sunscreen.</p> </sec> <sec id="phpp12190-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The analysis showed that unless a sunscreen provides optimal broad‐spectrum protection, a 2‐week sunbathing vacation that avoids sunburn on sunscreen‐protected skin can result in a higher cumulative UV exposure than a typical 10‐session sunbed course. The lowest exposures for a given sun protection factor (SPF) are obtained when sunscreen delivers broad‐spectrum protection that approaches the ideal of uniform absorption at all wavelengths throughout the UV spectrum.</p> </sec> <sec id="phpp12190-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>In extreme cases of recreational sun exposure where sunscreens providing suboptimal broad‐spectrum protection are used, the UV insult to the skin is likely to result in higher cumulative exposures than commonly employed sunbed practices.</p> </sec> </abstract>