It seems to be a very common belief that sun exposure or artificial tanning can be helpful in the fight against acne, and many people go out of their way just to get extra sun to treat their acne. This myth is especially prevalent for body acne such as that on the back and chest.
But what’s the real truth behind this? While some sun exposure is necessary for overall health, does it really help acne, or does it actually make acne worse?
Sun Exposure Darkens Skin
I believe that the primary driving force behind this myth is the fact that some sun exposure does in fact reduce the appearance of acne. This happens because as the skin darkens and begins to tan from the sun exposure, the redness and inflammation from acne blemishes becomes less noticeable.
However, the sun is not actually doing anything to reduce the amount of acne you have. If anything, too much sun exposure will make acne worse in the long-term.
Sun Exposure & Tanning Cause Irritation
Any form of a sun tan, and especially a sun burn, is a form of irritation to the skin. Irritation always makes acne worse, not better!
While the darkness of the skin will help hide existing acne blemishes, as time goes on you may find that increased amounts of sun exposure will only make you break out more.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that there is simply no reason to believe that sun exposure or tanning is good for acne, and plenty of reasons to believe that it is bad for acne.
If you want to clear your acne, get on a good acne treatment regimen and use a proper topical medication such as 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, and always moisturize the skin with a non-comedogenic moisturizer with added SPF for protection from unnecessary sun exposure. For severe cases of acne, consider speaking with a dermatologist about professional treatment options.
