7 simple sun safety habits for younger looking skin

Summer often brings long afternoons outdoors, trips to the beach and plenty of opportunities to soak up the sunshine. For some people, those warm weather moments also come with the goal of developing a tan.

But while bronzed skin may be associated with summer, intentionally spending time in the sun to change your skin tone comes with consequences that go beyond a temporary change in appearance.

Ultraviolet, or UV, radiation is one of the major environmental contributors to visible skin aging. Repeated exposure can gradually affect the proteins and structures responsible for keeping skin firm, smooth and resilient.

New research also suggests that intentional outdoor tanning remains widespread, particularly among young women.

Nearly half of young women report intentional tanning

A study published in JAMA Dermatology examined information from 31,615 adults who participated in the 2024 National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults.

Researchers looked at whether participants deliberately spent time outdoors with the goal of developing a tan. They also examined whether participants had experienced sunburn during the previous year and considered several demographic and lifestyle factors.

Overall, about 30% of U.S. adults surveyed reported intentionally tanning outdoors.

The difference between women and men was notable. About 35.6% of women reported deliberately tanning outdoors, compared with 26.6% of men.

The number was even higher among women ages 18 to 29. Nearly half, or 48.1%, said they intentionally spent time outside to develop a tan.

The findings also revealed another concerning pattern. Among people who intentionally tanned, 49.9% reported experiencing a sunburn during the previous year. That compared with 28.3% among those who…