We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide

Possible to avoid suntan?

Hi
Luckily i don't get sunburn as i'm fairly dark skinned (skin type IV), however i get tanned very easily which i don't like:eek: This might be a stupid question but if i use a good sun protection lotion (say SPF20) will this actually prevent me from getting a suntan? If not are there any products out there which stop dark skinned people like me from getting a sun tan? Thanks

Comments

  • binkyboo_2
    binkyboo_2 Posts: 675 Forumite
    i would maybe go for something higher than 20 and i would assume if you want no tan you would need to use a sunblock which is factor 30 or 50?
  • MessyMare
    MessyMare Posts: 984 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I wore the highest SPF possible when I went away to Portugal but I still came back suntanned (this is with 5-6 reapplications a day)

    Our greatest weakness lies in giving up; always try just one more time
  • ceebeeby
    ceebeeby Posts: 4,357 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    ... Maybe try and avoid being out in the sun or if you desperately do have too, wear long sleeved, long legged loose clothing, and a large brimmed hat - use sun-block on any other areas.

    Good luck
  • eyeonspain
    eyeonspain Posts: 157 Forumite
    I spend my summers trying not to get too dark in the summer as I don't like how it looks on me so I wear factor 50 on my face, wide brimmed hat, often sit with a kaftan on, always under an umbrella or a tree.
    No Unapproved or Personal links in signatures please - FT3
  • ~*Plushroom*~
    ~*Plushroom*~ Posts: 2,542 Forumite
    Essentially, no OP, regardless of what factor sun lotion you use you can't prevent tanning through using it (Take it from a ghost coloured gal who wears factor 50 when outside and still tans). Sun lotion with different SPFs just prolong the amount of time you can spend outside before burning.

    This website may help with information,
    http://ambafrance-do.org/beauty/30356.php

    Pretty much your best bet is a sunblock not sun lotion, but these are really uncomfortable and still don't provide 100% protection against tanning. However incorporting this along with covering up with loose natural fibres and seeking shade during the peak tanning hours you will lessen your chance of tanning considerably.
    The "Bloodlust" Clique - Morally equal to all. Member 1/Official 'Bring back Mark and Lard NOW! or else (please)' Member 18
    "We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free." Bill Hicks
    TRUE BLOOD FANGIRLS #4
    Wouldn't You Like To Be A Plushroom Too?:D
  • Barneysmom
    Barneysmom Posts: 10,155 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    it's still worth using though.
    I got some from Tesco last week when I was awy, SPF 50, it was £3 .
    Then I also got some different for my face, it's on special offer at the moment, reduced from £8 to £3. Soleil Beauty F/Defence Matte Fluid F30 50ml. That's a smaller sized bottle but I'll use it when I'm driving back home now too.

    For 6 quid, you can't grumble, it's nice too.
    I got the Value range aftersun, just to get that lovely cocoa butter smell.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Old style MoneySaving, Gardening, and Crafting boards. 
     If you need any help on these boards, please let me know.   Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators.
     Please report any posts you spot that are in breach of the Forum Rules by using the Report button, or by e-mailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not of MoneySavingExpert.com
  • Ted_Hutchinson
    Ted_Hutchinson Posts: 7,142 Forumite
    I hope no one is under the misguided impression that having a suntan is an indication of Vitamin D replete status.

    Tanning is a response to UVA radiation and Vitamin D is made from UVB. The proportion of UVB to UVA varies through the day and the highest ratio of UVB occurs around midday.

    YouTube - Skin Cancer/Sunscreen - the Dilemma explains how most sunscreens work by moving UVB into the UVA spectrum, so they block UVB by changing it to UVA however by doing so they prevent the production of Vitamin D3 even though they may allow skins to tan.

    If you haven't been taking an effective amount of vitamin d (5000iu/daily) and have been regularly using sunscreen through the day then a
    25(OH)D test will enable you to determine how vitamin D deficient you are and which chronic illnesses are you are potentially more at risk of
    My weight loss following Doktor Dahlqvist' Dietary Program
    Start 23rd Jan 2008 14st 9lbs Current 10st 12lbs
  • ~*Plushroom*~
    ~*Plushroom*~ Posts: 2,542 Forumite
    Barneysmom wrote: »
    it's still worth using though.
    I got some from Tesco last week when I was awy, SPF 50, it was £3 .
    Then I also got some different for my face, it's on special offer at the moment, reduced from £8 to £3. Soleil Beauty F/Defence Matte Fluid F30 50ml. That's a smaller sized bottle but I'll use it when I'm driving back home now too.

    For 6 quid, you can't grumble, it's nice too.
    I got the Value range aftersun, just to get that lovely cocoa butter smell.

    Ah the Soliel stuff, I remember telling people on here about it and then it wasn't in stock for anyone else to try. I've got the factor 50 one and it is great, keep stocking up when it's on offer - though £8 isn't that bad considering how good it is. The value range smells like cocoa butter? Ohhh, may have to look at that, I love the smell of cocoa butter.
    The "Bloodlust" Clique - Morally equal to all. Member 1/Official 'Bring back Mark and Lard NOW! or else (please)' Member 18
    "We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free." Bill Hicks
    TRUE BLOOD FANGIRLS #4
    Wouldn't You Like To Be A Plushroom Too?:D
  • lostinrates
    lostinrates Posts: 55,283 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    Ah the Soliel stuff, I remember telling people on here about it and then it wasn't in stock for anyone else to try. I've got the factor 50 one and it is great, keep stocking up when it's on offer - though £8 isn't that bad considering how good it is. The value range smells like cocoa butter? Ohhh, may have to look at that, I love the smell of cocoa butter.

    I've got it now!

    Its fab, so is the tesco rip off.:T

    I'm very pale skinned but spend a lot of time outside (gardening, working in my fields, with horses and walking dogs) So far serious usage of factor 50 is really working quite well for me. I have very, very slight tan on breast bone (can barely see it) and the ''worst'' area are my lower arms.

    I factor 50 thoroughly in the morning and then keep applying, particularly to those key areas through the day. I use the facial factor fifty s recommended above, and then top up frequently with a stick factor fifty (esier over makeup) my makeup also has a low spf.

    I ALWAYS wear huge sunglasses, and when I can, a hat. I recently had one of those sun damage phtos done and it the protection I've had from huge sunglasses was very clear to see.
  • lil_lady_2
    lil_lady_2 Posts: 138 Forumite
    hi
    the best ingredient for sunblock is zinc oxide which gives you about 90% uva protection titanium dioxide is a cheaper alternative.
    also look out for products with the skin cancer foundation logo on it .do not get this confused with the skin care foundation.
    at the moment i am liking skinsceuticals physical uv defense but it maybe abit to white for your skin tone. i tend to look at the ingredients more then the spf.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 354.7K Banking & Borrowing
  • 254.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 455.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 247.6K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 604.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 178.6K Life & Family
  • 262.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.