Does Spray Tan Help Prevent Sunburn?
Your spray tan needs to be shown off, and one of the best ways to do that is to spend some time next to the pool or at the beach!
Getting a spray tan is a quick and safe way to give your skin a sun-kissed glow without spending hours under the sun and potentially harming your skin.
Does spray tan help prevent sunburn?
A spray tan will not help prevent sunburn, as it does not contain any SPF to prevent UV rays from burning your skin. Spray tans are designed to darken your skin without UV exposure, but they are not designed to protect your skin further than that.
Read on to find out the benefits of spray tans and why they do not help prevent sunburn, and how you can protect your skin when you have had a spray tan done.
How Do Spray Tans Work?
Spray tans help to give your skin a dark, bronzed tan, without you needing to spend any time in the sun. It is a quicker way to develop a tan.
The main active ingredient in spray tan products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is a type of sugar that reacts with the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. Over a few hours, this reaction causes the top layer of your skin to turn a darker color, which is where the tan comes from.
When you’re in your spray tan session, the technician will apply the formula using a spray gun to your skin, covering your skin evenly all over to develop a streak-free, natural-looking tan.
The spray tan technician will also work with you to find the shade that suits your skin type and the best formula to care for your skin.
Spray tans can contain a bronzer, which will give your skin an instant bronzed glow to enjoy before the actual tan develops, and this bronzer washes away during your first shower.
Why Spray Tans Do Not Prevent Sunburn
The simple reason why spray tans do not prevent sunburn is that they do not contain any SPF to prevent UV rays from burning and damaging your skin.
Spray tan formulas often include nourishing ingredients that help keep your skin hydrated, but they most often do not contain SPF. If there is any SPF found in a spray tan, it is often a very low factor and is not high enough.
You might think having a tan protects your skin from damage, and you’re not completely wrong, but not exactly right either. Getting a spray tan and sunbathing aren’t the same at all. A spray tan just adds a darker color.
Even with a fresh spray tan, you’re still at risk of getting sunburned, and that’s something we think you should keep in mind before heading out into the sun. Your skin might look bronzed, but it still needs protection.
How To Protect Skin From Sunburn With A Spray Tan
Since spray tans don’t protect against sunburn, it’s up to you to keep your skin and that beautiful new glow.
Here are the best ways to prevent sunburn and damage from UV rays:
Wear Sunscreen
The best way to protect your skin from sunburn is to wear sunscreen with enough SPF. You should opt for the highest factor sunscreen, such as an SPF 50.
We can’t stress this enough, always remember to put on sunscreen before heading out into the sun, as even just a few minutes can lead to sunburn.
We advise you to use a daily moisturizer that contains SPF as part of your skincare routine, it gives you that extra layer of protection, even on days when you’re not planning to spend much time in the sun.
Wear Protective Clothing
The right protective clothing can really help protect your skin and your spray tan from sunburn.
Clothes that cover your arms and legs, which are made from thick enough fabric to allow UV rays through, can offer added protection, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat will offer protection to your head, neck, and face.
Time Your Exposure
The UV rays from the sun are more powerful at certain times of the day, so it is best to avoid the sun during the hours when it is at its peak to reduce your chance of sunburn.
We think you should avoid the sun when it’s at its strongest, usually between 10 AM and 4 PM, to lower your chances of getting sunburned. That’s when those UV rays are the most dangerous for your skin.
How Long Does A Spray Tan Last?
A professional spray tan usually lasts around 7 to 14 days, but how long it sticks around really depends on you, your skin type, how dark the tan is, and how well you take care of it after. Lighter shades might fade in 5 to 7 days, while deeper tans can last up to 10 days or a bit more if you keep up with proper aftercare.
How long your spray tan lasts mostly depends on how fast your skin naturally sheds. If you have oily skin or a quicker cell turnover, your tan might fade faster.
On the other hand, if your skin is well-moisturized, it tends to hold onto the color longer.
To make your tan last, exfoliate 24 to 48 hours before your session, moisturize daily after, and try to avoid harsh soaps or too much sweating.
Can I Apply Sunscreen Over A Spray Tan?
Yes, you can, and it’s totally fine to apply sunscreen over a spray tan. Just make sure you’re using the right kind, so you don’t mess with your glow.
We advise against using sunscreens that contain oil, alcohol, or come in aerosol form, as they can make your spray tan fade unevenly or leave streaks behind. Stick to gentle, oil-free lotions to keep your tan looking smooth and even.
Your spray tan technician will likely advise you to wear sunscreen after your appointment, and they might have recommendations for the best type to wear.
How Does A Sunburn Affect A Spray Tan?
When your skin gets sunburned, it dries out quite quickly, and this can lead to peeling.
When your skin dries from exposure to UV rays, the spray tan will begin to fade quicker, and you will likely be left with patches and streaks.
If your skin starts peeling after it has been burned, then there is a good chance that it will remove quite a bit of your spray tan. The spray tan is held on the top layer of your skin, specifically the dead skin cells, so when these peel away, so does the spray tan.
Developing a darker tan on top of your spray tan could also cause the spray tan to appear uneven and unnatural. It is best to just offer your skin and your spray tan as much protection as you can with added sunscreen whenever you step into the sun.
Does Spray Tan Help Prevent Sunburn?
No, it doesn’t, and you definitely shouldn’t rely on a spray tan to protect your skin. It doesn’t contain any real SPF, so you’ll still need proper sun protection to avoid burns and damage.
You need to take care to protect your skin and your spray tan when out in the sun, and the best way to do this is to apply high-factor sunscreen to your skin, but just make sure that the sunscreen you use is oil-free and alcohol-free.
The beauty of a spray tan is that you do not need to sit in the sun and cause damage to your skin in order to enjoy a golden glow, so do not then invalidate this by not protecting your spray-tanned skin with sunscreen when out in the sun and ending up with a sunburn anyways!
Related Questions
Does self-tanner protect you from sunburn?
Self-tanners, like spray tans, do not usually offer enough protection against UV rays, and you will need to apply sunscreen to your skin when going out into the sun.
Some self-tanners might contain some SPF, but this would not be enough to last the duration of the tan, and it would not be strong enough to fully protect your skin from sunburn.
Can you get a real tan with a fake tan on?
You can still tan with fake tan on, but the tan you develop might not be very even, as it could affect the appearance of the fake tan and cause patches and streaks. And because you can tan with a fake tan on, you can also burn.
