Sunless tanning delivers a fake tanned glow by coating your skin with the chemical dihydroxyacetone (DHA) which interacts with the dead surface cells in the epidermis to darken skin color and simulate a tan. The result usually lasts for several days. If you choose this option, you should know there are important restrictions on its use. DHA should not be inhaled, ingested, or used in such a way that the eyes and eye area are exposed to it because the risks, if any, are unknown.

If using a salon, The FDA recommends asking the tanning salon these questions beforehand to make sure you'll be protected:

• Will my eyes and the area surrounding them be protected?
• Will my nose, mouth and ears be protected?
• Will I be protected from inhaling the tanning spray through my nose or mouth?
  
  If the answer to any of these questions is "no," look for another salon. Otherwise you're putting yourself at risk for exposure to chemicals with potentially dangerous effects.

If applying a self-tanner at home: Be sure to follow the directions on the self-tanner label carefully and take care not to get the self-tanner in your eyes, nose, or mouth. Also be aware that many self-tanners don't have sunscreen in them.

It's important to use protection against both UVA and UVB rays which can cause sunburn, premature aging, skin cancer, and damage to the eyes and immune system. UVB rays have a short wavelength and only penetrates and damages the outer layer of your skin, called the epidermis. UVA rays have a longer wavelength which can damage the lower layer of your skin, called the dermis. A person with leathery, wrinkled skin and dark spots exhibits the disfiguring consequences of life long sunbathing. Protect your skin now and help prevent the future side effects caused by too much sun.

Important Sun Safety Tips and Facts about UV Radiation:

• Sunscreen doesn't completely protect you from harmful UV rays, but it can drastically reduce their effects if used properly.
  • Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen because it will help protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. Check the sunscreen label for broad-spectrum ingredients, such as benzophenones (oxybenzone), cinnamates (octylmethyl cinnamate and cinoxate), sulisobenzone, salicylates, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and avobenzone (Parsol 1789).
  • Use only SPF 15 or higher: All sunscreens are labeled with SPF numbers. The higher the SPF number, the more protection against sunburn the sunscreen provides. To get the most protection out of sunscreen choose one with an SPF of at least 15.
  • Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside to give it time to soak into the skin for effectiveness. Apply an even coat of sunscreen over all exposed skin, including your eyelids, nose, ears, neck, hands and feet.
  • Apply sunblock lip balm 30 minutes before going outside as well. Use broad-spectrum, SPF 15 or higher. The lips are a common site for sun damage and skin cancer.
  • Reapply both sunscreen and lip balm, periodically, according to the instructions on the label. Some sunscreens are labeled as being water-resistant. These sunscreens stay on the skin longer even if they get wet from pool water, ocean water, or sweat. But water-resistant doesn't mean waterproof. Water-resistant sunscreens still need to be reapplied, so check the label for reapplication times.
• Be aware of conditions that make the sun's rays most dangerous:
  • From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest, stay indoors or minimize UV exposure with sunscreen, a brimmed hat, sunglasses with a UVA/UVB rating of 99% or higher. Also be aware that:
• Snow, sand, water, and even concrete can magnify the UV radiation due to reflection.
• Clouds don’t block UVB and you can still get sunburned on a cloudy day.
• UV radiation levels rise in high altitudes (in the mountains) and low latitudes (near the equator).
• When the UVI is 5 or higher, you should always protect yourself from UV exposure with sunscreen, a brimmed hat, sunglasses with a UVA/UVB rating of 99% or higher, and seeking shade when possible can help decrease your risk. UVI is a number from 1-11 that indicates the amount of skin-damaging UV rays reaching the earth's surface at any point in time. The daily UVI number, listed in the weather section of most city newspapers, forecasts the amount of UV you'll be exposed to during the sun's highest point in the sky-usually around noon. The higher the UVI number is, the more intense the exposure. If your local newspaper doesn't list the UVI for your area, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers UVI forecasts by ZIP code at http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html.
• Wide-brimmed hats provide the best protection, especially for the ears, a common site of skin cancer. There are hats now available by a large number of companies that specifically offer SPF protection.
  
• Clothing can help protect you from harmful UV but remember than fabrics can differ greatly in their ability to shield UV rays, and natural fibers like cotton offer little protection when wet. The ideal sun protective fabrics are lightweight, comfortable, and protect against exposure even when wet. SPF clothing are available that have thick, tightly woven fabrics with special fibers and dyes to help shield you from the sun's rays. Light-color fabrics, of course, will be cooler in the summer heat.
• Sunglasses: Protect eyes with sunglasses that have a UV/UVB protection of at least 99%. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV-A and UV-B rays) can lead to cataract formation. Be careful when purchasing sunglasses that state they "block UV" without saying how much, they need to block 99 to 100 percent of UV rays. (Some labels read "UV protection up to 400nm" -this means 100 percent UV absorption.)
• Certain medications, such as antibiotics, can make you more sensitive to the sun and put you at greater risk for sunburn. Ask your doctor whether you're taking a medication that could affect your sensitivity to the sun and what you should do
• Most car windows do not shield harmful UV rays: Some windshields will shield some harmful UV rays, however sunroofs, side, and rear windows offer no protection from damaging ultraviolet rays. Drivers, passengers, and their children should all wear sunscreen on car rides to protect their skin.
  

Note: While sunscreens are very important to use and do protect against sunburn, they don't necessarily prevent cancer. If you use sunscreens to spend more time in the sun, your skin could still be exposed to a high dose of UV, especially the longwave rays. So it's still a good idea to stay out of the sun at midday, and to protect yourself with sunglasses, a wide-brim hat, and protective clothing like a long-sleeved shirt made of thick, light-colored fabric.

Everyone, no matter their skin tone, is at risk for skin damage. However, there are six skin categories recognized by the FDA and the AAD which classify skin types by sensitivity to the sun and typical skin tone. Check out the table to see which skin type you are.

• Type I: I Always burns easily, never tans, extremely sun sensitive skin, red-headed, freckles, Ex: Irish/Scots/Welsh
• Type II: II Always burns easily, tans minimally, very sun sensitive skin, fair-skinned, fair-haired, blue or green-eyed, Ex: Caucasians
• Type III: Sometimes burns, tans gradually to light brown, sun sensitive skin, average skin
• Type IV: Burns minimally, always tans to moderate brown, minimally sun sensitive, ex: Mediterranean-type Caucasians
• Type V: Rarely burns, tans well, sun insensitive skin, ex: Middle Eastern, some Hispanics, some African-Americans
• Type VI: Never burns, deeply pigmented, sun insensitive skin, ex: African-Americans

While it's true that sunlight can have the benefit of helping your body produce vitamin D, about 10 to 15 minutes of unprotected sun on your face and hands 2 to 3 times a week provides you with a healthy dose.

• It can take up to 8 hours for the full effects of sunburn to kick in.
• Studies have shown a link between severe sunburn and melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer
• A mild sunburn can be treated with cool baths, over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams, and aspirin to relieve pain and swelling.
• A severe sunburn, usually characterized by a large area of red, blistered skin with a headache, fever, or chills should be treated as a medical emergency and examined by a doctor right away.