As a skin care professional, I am probably more anti-sunbathing than most.  The negative effects of sun exposure are well documented and extensive.  Sun damage includes aging, cellular inflammation and skin cancer. 

Unfortunately, as a teen I laid out in the sun a lot using baby oil mixed with iodine-remember that?  I am probably revealing my age!  I sometimes had multiple blistering sunburns per summer and I am now paying the price.  I see my dermatologist every year for a complete skin check and have had several sun induced pre-cancer growths removed.  Several means up to 100 per year- I call it my “scorched earth” appointment.  We burn or freeze everything off that may be suspect so not much clear skin is left behind.  Needless to say, I have “seen the light”… and now avoid it. 

I am always amazed by the number of people who don’t wear sunblock.  There are varying reports as to how much of our aging is due to sun exposure which ranges from 80% - 95%.  If someone told me there were a very simple, painless, inexpensive way to prevent 80-95% of all of my aging and reduce my risk of various skin cancers and painful surgeries to remove them, I would jump on it.  Wouldn’t you?  Yet a recent survey shows that while 70% of the population believes that premature aging is caused by sunlight only 18% use a sunblock daily.  Only 58 % of women report using sunblock daily, while 26% never use sunblock at all.

After sun exposure there is a negative chain reaction in the skin.   The UV rays penetrate the skin and damage DNA.  Cells with damaged DNA either repair themselves or die.  Free radicals and reactive oxygen species  attack the cell’s structure and molecular components-or matrix.  This increases the activity of the matrix metalloproteinase, an enzyme which causes excessive collagen breakdown.  New collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans synthesis is reduced, further weakening the skin’s structure.  Adenosine triphosphate, stored energy of the skin cells, is used to cope with the stress instead of allowing the cells to perform normal metabolic functions.  The skin is disorganized, weakened, and just trying to survive. 

What does all of that mean in terms of skin appearance?  When the epidermis is damaged by the sun, its barrier function is impaired and it can’t retain moisture as well.  Pigment becomes uneven.  The skin becomes thinner and looks like leather.  Collagen and elastin are compromised creating sagging, loose, and wrinkled skin.  Who wants to look like an old handbag?

I will admit that I think a tan looks pretty and can even reduce the appearance of cellulite.  But there are safe methods of tanning that give you all of the benefits with none of the risks.