As some Australians continue to chase the perfect tan, it is important that we take an educated look at what tanning actually is and what it does to the skin.

Sun and spray tanning continue to evolve with more technology and education on the subject, and as we gain a deeper understanding about why so many people feel the need to get a tan.

Living in Australia, overexposure to sun is extremely common. For many it is just a result of doing a lot of outdoor activities, but for others it’s a look they like.

Cancer Council WA Sunsmart manager Sally Blane says: “tanning is a sign that skin has been damaged by overexposure to UV radiation. It occurs as the skin produces more melanin (pigment) in an attempt to protect itself from further UV damage, causing the skin to darken temporarily.”

According to the Cancer Council, in 2019 the Summer Sun Protection Survey discovered almost one in two Australian residents reported getting a tan from sun exposure.

The survey also showed that males were more likely to have a tan, with 51 per cent of males sporting a tan, while only 42 per cent of females were tanned.

Tanning is an established part of the beauty industry and many social media influences push the idea that people need to tan to be beautiful. With more and more influencers promoting dangerous tanning habits, it is important that Australians understand the damage they could potentially be doing to their skin.

Why has tanning become a trend?

Business owner and spray tan technician Natasha Gray says: “I believe people tan to gain confidence. It enhances their appearance and makes them feel more comfortable and self-assured.”

Gray started her beauty degree back in 2010, where she learnt about many forms of beauty treatments from waxing to facials, but she found spray tanning to be the most enjoyable.

“The main reason I really pursued my career in spray tanning was because of my mum. In 2000, I was ten at the time, my mum was diagnosed with a stage three melanoma in the middle of her back,” she says.

This is a story Gray often brings up with her clients if they mention being severely sunburnt or getting a tan from the sun.

“My preference between natural tans and fake tans would without a doubt be fake tans. Fake tans can offer a consistent and controlled way of achieving a tan without the risks associated with prolonged sun exposure,” she says.

Gray says, “tanning of the skin by the sun is a sign your skin cells are in trauma, even if your suntan fades the skin damage remains.”

Owner of M Tanning, Molly Kelly says, “I have had several clients over the years who have had moles removed becuase they were cancerous. I use this as an example to promote the importance of looking after your skin, wearing a hat, covering up when outside and applying sunscreen with a high Sun Pretection Factor.”

Several myths about suntanning persist, with some Australians believing a tan will prevent sun damage.

The 2019 Cancer Council survey found that 57 per cent of people reported wearing sunglasses, this was the most common form of sun protection among Australians. While only 37 per cent reported wearing sunscreen with SPF of 30 or higher and 29 per cent of people said they wore clothes that covered their legs to protect themselves from sun damage.

Kelly is adamant: “There is nothing healthy about a suntan. I also use a natural and organic tanning solution, that is vegan and not tested on animals. I also believe in buying and using quality products.” She says.

Kelly says skin health to me is super important and having clean ingredients that do not cause damage to the skin is very important.

She also sees the impact of social media influences on what people perceive as beauty, whether it is content marketing by brands showing girls bronzed and beautiful, or the use of influencers “promoting self-tan brands, getting paid money to promote products, when we all know they don’t actually use the products and pop in to get it done professionally instead.”

She warns everyone: “Don’t believe everything you see on social media.”

The history of tanning and solariums

While tans were once thought to be a sign of being a lower class outdoor worker, in the 1920s attitudes started to change.

According to ProSun International, bit started to be seen as a sign of wealth and beauty for both women and men.

After World War II, soldiers would come back from warmer climates and in turn have a tan, self-tanners and tanning oils became popular shortly after.

Then in the 1970s, Friedrich Wolff inventeda sun lamp, the device that allowed people to tan indoors. Mr Wolff was inspired by his work on NASA astronauts, focussed on fact that astronauts would venture out into space with no exposure to sunlight.

It was hypothesized that by exposing the skin to UV light, Wolff could stimulate the body to produce more melanin and vitamin D. According to Talking Tan, he tested his invention on himself and his friends, all reporting that they felt more energised.

Tanning indoors was expected to be better for people’s skin due to the UV being controlled. Solariums still offer these tanning services, using lamps that emit artificial UV radiation to generate a tan in the skin but they are not risk free.

But Gray says: “As of January 2016, solariums (tanning beds) in Australian states were banned due to the associated health risks, as solariums emit UV levels up to six times stronger than the midday sun.”

The Cancer Council explains the ban in detail saying: “The commercial ban of solariums makes it illegal for any person to provide the use of a tanning bed (commercial or home unit) for a fee. The commercial ban, however, does not affect personal ownership or use of solariums.”

Gray explains that it was estimated that each year in Australia there were 281 melanoma cases, 43 melanoma-related deaths and 2572 new cases of squamous cell carcinoma attributed to solarium use.

Is spray tanning safe?

Spray tanning works by using a tanning solution that contains a chemical called dihydroxyacetone or DHA for short. When applied to human skin it reacts with the outermost layer of skin and turns the skin a darker colour.

It is only temporary because it only affects the outermost layer of the skin, and skin naturally sheds, exfoliates and regrows every month or so, removing the tan.

Sun and solarium tanning have a lot of known and thoroughly researched risks, but spray tanning is also not risk-free.

Spray tanning is known to cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks and eye irritation, in some people, or if it is incorrectly used. And, according to the Cleveland Clinic, there hasn’t been enough research yet to know if spray tanning has any more serious risks or potential complications.

The real cost of tanning

According to the Cancer Council about two-thirds of Australians will develop skin cancer over the course of their lifetime.

The severity of the damage done by spending extensive amounts of time in the sun comes, is associated with how intense the UV component of the sulight is. This is measured by the UV Index which classifies the UV radiation levels. The UV Index levels go from 1 to 11: with one and two being low levels with no protection needed; three to five being moderate with some protection recommended; six and seven are high with protection essential; eight to ten are very high with extra protection needed and 11+ is extreme and people should stay inside.

According to the New South Wales Government, a UV radiation level of more than three will result in damage to the skin, increasing a person’s chance of developing skin cancer if they go out into the sun without the proper protection.

Blane says: “Tanning increases your risk of skin cancer and can also lead to premature ageing such as wrinkles and sunspots. Having a tan does not protect you against further skin damage. The more you tan, the more your skin cancer risk increases.”

She adds that fake tanning does not offer any protection to your skin and that sunscreen and other types of su protection should be used.

Tanning culture worries Blane. She says: “Social norms around tanning as being desirable and something to aspire to is a significant concern.

“With the rise of social media and influencers, young people in particular are being bombarded with harmful messages and ideas around tanning. This may lead them to damage their skin, sometimes unknowingly, in an attempt to achieve a tanned appearance.”

She hopes enough of them will hear or read information about how to stay safe that the harm can be minimised.

So spread the word: Fake tans don’t protect your skin and skin protection is important.