Some genes affect the body's ability to create melanin in response to sun exposure. A new study3 looked at nearly 200,000 people to see how well they tan. It included a wide range of people, from people who never tan to people who never burn. Keep in mind that people can tan and burn at the same time!
Therefore, what will determine whether a person can tan or simply turn red is both the amount of melanin produced by their skin cells and its quality. Or, the ratio between “good and bad” melanin.
The reason you don't tan is because you don't have enough melanin in your skin. Melanin is the tanning colour in our skin. When we go in the sun it is produced to protect our skin. The evolutionary advantage of white skin was that, when there was seldom any sun; skin started to produce less melanin.
Yes, it is possible for individuals with very pale skin to have difficulty tanning. People with fair skin typically have less melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color and tanning. This can make them more prone to sunburn rather than tanning.
How to Not Get Tan. When you do go outside, use an SPF 30 sunscreen and wear a large hat with UV sunglasses. You may also wear darker, closely-woven clothing and use an umbrella to create shade for yourself. Consider avoiding being outside during the sun's strongest hours (i.e., 10AM - 4PM).
If the skin has been inflamed or is severely dry, the melanocytes (cells that give the skin its color) in that area do not react to UV light the same as they do in non-affected/dry skin areas.
Boost Your Beta-Carotene Intake
Foods rich in beta-carotene, like carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, and kale, can give your skin a natural glow while enhancing its ability to tan.
Because vitiligo spots have no melanin, they can't tan. If the skin isn't protected with sunscreen, vitiligo patches may burn or scar. Getting a tan on the rest of your body will only highlight the white patches, especially if you have light skin.
Natural Sun Tanning
Fair skin can tan under the sun, but only with care. Start with short, consistent exposure, about 10-15 minutes a day during safer times like early morning or late afternoon.
Type IV – Brown skin color, brown hair, and brown eyes, tans more than average, rarely burns, and rarely freckles. Common ethnic background: the Mediterranean, Southern European, Hispanic.
Difficult-to-tan areas (e.g. leg skin, palms) are those where the skin has fewer melanocytes than other areas of the body that get more sun exposure. What are melanocytes? They are cells that produce pigment, which is released during a tanning bed session, entering the epidermis.
It may be a safer way to glow, but the message is still clear: People want to be tan. Why? Multiple studies have shown that people not only feel more attractive when they're tan but also perceive others as more appealing with a golden glow.
Individuals with fair skin have a low production of melanin, which increases their sensitivity to the sun's rays. This skin type is particularly prone to sunburn and often struggles to tan. However, it's not impossible for fair skin to achieve a slight tan.
Papaya: Like carrots, orange fruits and vegetables, such as papaya, help to enhance your tan naturally thanks to its high beta-carotene levels. Melon: This refreshing fruit, rich in antioxidants and beta-carotenes will help you to keep your golden skin tone.
Skin Type 1
You may be Type 1 if you have pale skin that always burns and never tans. You probably have light blue, gray or green eyes and your hair is naturally blonde or red.
One of the biggest factors that affects tanning is your skin type. Not all skin reacts to UV the same way, and understanding your skin type is key to setting realistic tanning goals. For example, if you are a red head and have very light skin, you'll more likely struggle to tan due to low melanin.
Light skin is most commonly found amongst the native populations of Europe, East Asia, West Asia, Central Asia, Siberia, and North Africa as measured through skin reflectance.
Unless pale skin is accompanied by pale lips, tongue, palms of the hands, inside of the mouth, and lining of the eyes, it is probably not a serious condition and does not require treatment. General paleness affects the entire body. It is most easily seen on the face, lining of the eyes, inner mouth, and nails.
Genetic factors influencing sunburn and tanning
Certain genes influence melanin production and skin color, affecting whether you tan or burn. People with fair skin have less melanin and are more prone to burning, while those with darker skin have more melanin and are more likely to tan.
Purpura is common in older people. It is called solar purpura because it occurs most often on areas that are exposed to the sun. The bruises bother some people because of how they look. But they aren't serious.
If tanning in the sun, start with only 15-20 minutes in the sun on your first session. In your following tanning sessions only increase your time by 5-10 minute increments, and monitor your skin regularly to make sure you aren't starting to go red and burn. If tanning on a sunbed, start with 2-3 minutes.
You don't necessarily tan faster in water or laying out. This is because water reflects UV rays, so you may not be getting as much exposure as you think if you're actually in the pool.
Currently, no safe or proven method exists to increase melanin – the pigment, or color, in a person's skin, hair, and eyes. A person's genetics determine their natural melanin levels and skin color.