How long should I lay outside if I want to get a light/medium sun tan?

Question

The UV levels are about medium today. How many minutes do you think it will take to get a little bit of a suntan? I know tanning is bad for you because of the risk of skin cancer and all that stuff, but I don't tan very often so I'm not really worried and I'm not going to get that dark or get burned.

I have light skin but I'm not really pale, I don't burn easily but I always got freckles on my face as a kid in the summertime.

Answer 1

Try one hour (1/2 hr on each side) the first time, and if you don't burn too much, repeat it every two or three days.

Answer 2

Ouch. Just think: wrinkles when I"m 40...wrinkles when I'm 40...wrinkles when I'm 40. I know you know and have heard it all before, but deliberatly laying out in the sun to get a tan is like raping your skin. Even just a little bit. Not just because of skin cancer either. People nowdays want to look 20 when they are really 35-40, and if you damage your skin by exposing it to the extremes of tanning, there is no going back. ONce the damage is done, its done, no reversing it. Of course everyone thinks a tan looks beautifull, but a leathery, wrinkly, dried up old woman at only 40 yrs of age doesnt. Best bet is to play it safe now, so you can enjoy your later years looking beautifull too. Go for the fake airbrushed look, it looks wonderfull and natural, without the damage.

Answer 3

I wear SPF 30 every time I go out in the sun because I had a skin cancer scare.I STILL tan I just don't get the harmful rays.The rule of thumb is 15 minutes per side without sunblock.4 to 6 hours with.The sun ages you so be careful.Always moisturize the skin.I Love Olay lotions.They have a glowing effect on the skin and adds tiny little sparkles that you can see when you are outside.Looks sexy smells great.

Answer 4

Any sun exposure gives you a higher percentage of developing skin cancer. I would use an SPF 4, and lay out about 15 mins on each side, then take a break in the shade. If you go in the water, reapply the SPF 4 before laying out again.
Remember: You won't see much of a change until you go home and shower, so don't stay out too long!

Answer 5

This is my system for getting a tan, and this may need to be altered depending on your skin type ( do you burn easily? freckle?)
Put on SPF 30 all over and lay out in direct sunlight for 30 min on front and back (it helps to make a 30 min long playlist on your I-pod for timing). Then take a 15 min break and re apply sunscreen, and lay out for another hour (30 min on each side).

This is easiest to do when its not SUPER hot (aka 104) but more like 85 or 90 with no cloud cover.

And remember to moisturize after to soothe your skin!

Answer 6

It depends on your skin type, ancestry, and how easily you burn. For fair skin it will take 5 days at 15 minutes to develop color. Longer than that will cause you to burn.

Answer 7

about 40

Answer 8

Hi there, I suggest starting out for 10 minutes, then increasing from there if you don't notice much change. I wouldn't lay out any longer than 20-30 minutes though a day. Good luck!

Answer 9

HI,,,, not over an hour on each side......

depending on what kind of skin tone you have,, i have dark skin, the italian-native american type....so it doesnt take long.....
what my doctor told me,, is that with my type,, i dont have to really worry about the skin cancer very much,, i get checked every year any way....

good luck

Answer 10

Try 30 minutes without UV cream, and then put some on and stay out for three more hours