Can you tan safely on holiday?
Het Nieuwsblad, 6 July 2022
Dr Thomas Maselis and Dr Griet Voet in Het Nieuwsblad on tanning: why a tan always means skin damage and how to protect yourself better.
In Het Nieuwsblad, Dr Thomas Maselis and Dr Griet Voet consider the wish to get a tan in summer. Dr Maselis explains that tanned skin is actually already a defence reaction to DNA damage. Both UVA and UVB radiation contribute over time to skin ageing and skin cancer, and the sun also suppresses the skin's defences.
If you do go out in the sun, it is best to choose early morning or late afternoon and combine shade, clothing and plenty of sunscreen, reapplied regularly. According to the doctors, the only way to get colour without risk is a self-tanner.
Dr Voet also mentions beta-carotene supplements, but warns that they are not suitable for skin that easily develops pigmentation spots, and that sunscreen is still needed even then.
Key advice
Go out in the sun when your shadow is longer than you are: before 10 am or after 4 pm.
Protect yourself with shade, covering clothing and plenty of sunscreen, and reapply every few hours.
If you want colour without risk, use a self-tanner.
Beta-carotene supplements are not recommended for skin prone to pigmentation spots.
“You do need to be careful with this, because it is not suitable for skin that is prone to brown spots or hyperpigmentation.” — Dr Griet Voet and Dr Thomas Maselis