A base tan protects children's skin from sunburn

What the research found

Official guidance is clear and consistent. UK guidance says a tan does not protect your skin from the sun's harmful effects, and there is no safe or healthy way to get one. US guidance says a base tan is actually a sign of skin damage, and that any colour change after UV exposure, tan or burn, is a sign of injury.

The same US guidance says indoor tanning does not protect against sunburn. That matters because a survey of 243 tanning facilities in Missouri, published in Pediatrics in 2013, found 80% claimed indoor tanning would prevent future sunburns. Health guidance says otherwise.

Research on children points the same way. A 2009 study of very-light-skinned children followed over three years found tanned children had more moles than minimally tanned children. At age 8, the averages were 31.9 versus 22.3. This study looked at moles, not sunburn directly. Australian guidance says children can burn in as little as 10 minutes.

What it doesn’t mean

• No trials in the research found tested whether a tan prevents sunburn in children. The verdict rests mainly on health guidance, plus supporting research on tanning and skin damage.
• The mole study was observational and covered very fair-skinned children in one US region. It shows an association, not proof that tanning causes more moles.
• A tan does not replace sun protection. When the UV Index is 3 or more, use clothing, a hat, shade, sunglasses and SPF30+ sunscreen. See a GP if your child has severe blistering, or if you notice new or changing spots or moles.