What is Sun Tanning?

Sun tanning is the process whereby skin color is darkened or tanned when you are exposed to the sun for a long period. This is our skin's ability to protect ourselves against ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight. When we are exposed to UV, our skin increases the production of melanin, in an attempt to protect the skin against further damage.

How It Affects Your Body

In humans, a pigment called melanin is the primary determinant of skin colour. People that produce more melanin will have darker skin. On the other hand, people with lower concentrations of that pigment will have fair skin.

The combination of these gene variations results in different amounts of melanin in the skin. People with darker skin are more likely to tan than to burn. Their skin is already primed to make melanin.

Melanin effectively absorbs light. It is able to dissipate over 99.9% of absorbed UV radiation. This means that the pigment can shield skin from harmful sun rays. Darker-skinned people are naturally more resistant to the harmful effects of sunlight.

Beyond just damaging your skin, UV radiation also triggers the production of melanin.