The sun lovers among us would like to hear the answer yes to the question "Does tanning help acne?"This article will look at whether tanning can be a good way to clear up acne or whether it can actually make it worse.
So is does tanning help acne? The main reason people think this could be true is because when they have a tan they notice that it disguises breakouts and possibly acne scars from previous breakouts.
This is just camouflaging the skin, there is no evidence that tanning can get rid of acne.
One of the things that stimulates sebaceous (oil)glands is heat and humidity.
So sunbathing or using a tanning bed can make the skin oilier as the heat stimulates excess oil production.
And if you've researched acne at all you'll know that excess oil is one of the main causes of acne break outs.
Another important reason why tanning is bad for the skin especially for acne sufferers using certain acne treatments is that they strip the skins natural uv protection.
This is known as photosensitivity and makes your skin more vulnerable to rays from the sun as well as tanning beds.
Tanning in this situation is not helping clear up your acne and also putting you at increased risk of severe sunburn, skin damage, premature aging, and skin cancer.
Here are the main acne treatments that cause photosensitivity * Accutane * benzoyl peroxide * Some oral contraceptives * Some oral antibiotics, for example tetracycline and doxycycline * Retin-A (tretinoin) * Differin * Tazorac So does tanning help acne?In a word, NO!Rather than exposing your skin to such dangers get an all year round bronzed look from a non-comedogenic sunless tanner.