A Sunburn May Turn Into a Tan — but Both Are Damaging

Uh-oh. You may have underestimated the strength of the sun’s rays or gone too long between sunscreen applications. Perhaps you didn’t think you’d be outside so long and skipped sunscreen altogether.

Regardless of the reason, your skin is red and tender. You’ve got a sunburn.

So, now you’re wondering how long you’ll be sporting the lobster — or if it will just fade into a tan. Dermatologist Amy Kassouf, MD, explains what to expect and what kind of damage you’ve done to your skin.

What determines if a sunburn turns into a tan?

Whether a sunburn turns into a suntan depends on factors out of your control. Namely, your skin type or how much melanin is in your skin’s top layer (epidermis).

To figure this out, experts refer to the Fitzpatrick skin type (FST) scale. The scale was created in 1975 to help healthcare providers determine if someone with lighter skin will burn or tan based on their skin’s surface color or skin tone. (The system now accounts for people of color.)

The use of the scale has expanded over time. Today, providers use it to gauge things like your likelihood of getting skin cancer or how your skin might respond to laser hair removal or plastic surgery.

The scale rates skin types from FST 1 to FST 6. The lower the number, the more likely you are to burn and not tan.

If your skin type isn’t prone to tanning, that burn will likely peel away and leave you with the same fair skin tone you had before.

However, the damaged skin might look different from the rest of your body. “When your skin peels from sunburn, you lose the outer protective layer of skin,” Dr. Kassouf says. “The affected area may look pinker or darker while your body creates a new skin barrier.”

Remember, too, that sunburn is a sign of skin damage, a type of burn or wound. “You’ve essentially cooked your skin in ultraviolet (UV) radiation,” explains Dr. Kassouf.

And while the burn may (or may not) eventually turn into a tan, bronzed skin is also damaged skin. “There’s no such thing as a healthy tan,” stresses Dr. Kassouf. “Both sunburns and suntans age your skin and increase your risk for skin cancer.”

Does skin get darker after sunburn?

It might. That’s because a sunburn causes melanin-producing cells called melanocytes to make more skin-darkening pigment.

“You won’t get a deep, dark tan after one sunburn, but ongoing exposure and damage from UV light will darken skin,” notes Dr. Kassouf. “Depending on your skin type, the skin change may look like a tan.”

UV-darkened skin may be less prone to burning. “But you have to damage your skin first to get this protection,” Dr. Kassouf emphasizes. “The cancer risks don’t outweigh the benefits.”

How long before a sunburn turns tan?

How soon sunburn fades into tan depends on several factors. Most of the sun’s rays are UVA rays, which penetrate deep into your skin. “Sunburns from UVA rays take a little longer to appear and longer to go away,” says Dr. Kassouf.

UVB rays, on the other hand, cause more damage to the top skin layer. This sunburn appears and heals a bit faster.

Both types of UV light exposure cause most sunburns.

Depending on the sunburn severity, it can take one to two weeks for the skin to heal and darken. Sunburns that blister often take longer to heal and may require medical attention.

Can I help my sunburn turn into a tan?

The same steps that soothe sunburn may help turn it into a tan if you have a certain skin tone. You can:

• Apply cooling aloe vera gel and moisturizer
• Drink plenty of water to hydrate your skin
• Take over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen to ease pain and inflammation
• Use topical anesthetics to temporarily numb pain and itching

Protect your skin from sunburns, tans and skin cancer

You can’t completely avoid UV rays, but you can take steps to minimize exposure, prevent sunburns and tans, and lower your skin cancer risk.

It starts with applying sunscreen every day, even if you’re working indoors or simply running errands. “UV light penetrates windows in your car, home and workplace,” Dr. Kassouf clarifies. “So, you need to protect your hands, arms, face and other exposed areas.”

Don’t skimp on sunscreen if you’re planning a day at the beach or in the sun. “Use two tablespoons of sunscreen — the equivalent of a shot glass — to cover your body and reapply every couple of hours,” advises Dr. Kassouf.

Safe ways to get that golden glow

It’s hard to flip your thinking and view sun-kissed skin as damaged. It’s possible, though, to get that golden glow without the added risk of wrinkles and skin cancer. The solution? “Self-tanners are the safest way to get a tan appearance,” Dr. Kassouf maintains.