It’s pretty well-known that tanning – whether outdoors with the sun or in an indoor tanning salon – can damage the skin and cause health issues.
This is especially true in today’s society, where an excessively sun-kissed appearance has become widely accepted as a false equivalency for healthy skin.
Then there’s acne. Many people are willing to go to any length to get rid of bothersome acne. Because acne breakouts are one of the most common skin disorders that affect many patients, doctors frequently discover that patients have come up with innovative ways to get rid of acne.
One thing that some people try is to use tanning as a way to try to get rid of acne. But does this really work? Does tanning help acne?
This article will explore the answer to that question and debunk the myths around tanning and skin health.
Does Tanning Help Acne?
No, tanning does not help with acne problems. Tanning can do more harm than good, especially excessive tanning.
Many tanning salons use tactics to try to attract people to their businesses. And stating that tanning helps heal acne scars and prevents pimples from forming is simply a marketing tactic.
Over the past decade, a great deal of research has been done on the false claims made by tanning salons regarding their ability to treat the following:
- eczema,
- psoriasis,
- and acne through ultraviolet rays.
All of these have been proven to be false.
The Misconception Behind Tanning and Acne
According to some people, the assumption that tanning is beneficial for acne appears to derive from the fact that tanning darkens the skin. This results in pimples appearing less prominent.
While tanning may appear to be an effective way to reduce blemishes and breakouts, it can cause more harm than good.
This is particularly true for people who are using medication to treat their acne. Many acne medications increase your photosensitivity, meaning skin is more vulnerable to UV rays. Ultimately this can exacerbate the physical aging process and the risk of skin cancer.
The Risks of Tanning
Instead of helping the skin, excessive UV light – whether from a tanning booth or prolonged sun exposure – can actually cause an increase in acne breakouts. As previously stated, it also raises the risk of skin cancer and premature aging.
When it comes down to it, tanning bed exposure causes a tremendous deal of harm to your skin, which is far from the healthy, glowing skin that we all desire.
Furthermore, although sun exposure may initially appear to dry out oily skin, this action will have the opposite effect. Tanning under the sun or in a tanning booth dehydrates the skin, prompting the oil-producing sebaceous glands to secrete more oil, which may increase breakouts.
Conclusion on Tanning and Skin Health
So, all in all, for those considering tanning as an acne treatment, it’s crucial to be aware that it’s more likely than not to be harmful rather than beneficial and understand why.
It is best to stick with scientifically proven acne treatments instead of rumors and marketing campaigns.
To find out more about your skin health, check out our other articles here.
