The straight answer to this question is no. Spray tan doesn’t prevent sunburn. I know many people believe that the chemical composition of spray tan is good enough to protect them from relentless UV radiation. You are wrong, my friend.
I guess you are mixing spray tan with a sunscreen. Don’t worry; I am here to clarify this for everyone’s benefit.
What is Spray Tan?
First, you need to understand what a spray tan is. You can call it a self-tanner or sunless tanner method. It is a specific spray that is applied all over your body to make you look beautiful.
Spray tans contain a chemical called Dihydroxyacetone (DHA). This sugar compound creates a bronze pigment when it reacts with skin cells. It remains on your skin up to 2-3 days and then starts to exfoliate. Spray tanning is a safer alternative for people who don’t prefer natural tanning.
Why Spray Tan Doesn’t Prevent Sunburn
A spray tan or lotion is formulated only to create a shiny bronze layer of skin that makes you glow. A sunscreen protects you from the sun. The ingredients in spray tan and sunscreen are totally different.
A spray tan is useless and might cause more damage, whether you are in a tanning bed for a sunless tan or expose your skin to direct sunlight. When your tan peels off, your new skin might have patches as sunburn aftermath.
Remember to use only the right sunscreen to prevent sunburn. The risk of skin cancer is present if you get excessive sunburn.
Understanding SPF
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It measures a product’s ability to protect you from harsh UVA and UVB rays. Spray tans have an SPF of 1-4 only which is not enough to eliminate the risk of skin damage.
If you ask dermatologists, they’ll suggest 50+ SPF products only to get UV protection. 50+ SPF is found only in clothing.
A sunscreen with 30 SPF is good enough to eliminate the risk of premature skin aging, skin cancer, and sunburn. Spray tans do not even come close to it.
Final Thoughts
So, next time anyone says a spray tan protects from sunburn, RUN!
Spray tans are safe in what they do. Get a spray tan that falls under safety guidelines and make yourself distinct and beautiful without any side effects.