Topless Tanning: Daring or Health Risk?

We all love that feeling of the summer sun on our skin, and if we get a nice tan in the process, even better!

But no one likes those pesky tan lines, and so many more women are opting to go topless when tanning. There are places where it’s perfectly legal to tan sans top, and of course, in the privacy of your backyard, no one can stop you.

Tan lines can be intense, and they aren’t always easy to cover up! Image via Style Caster

But is getting an even tan on top a health risk? We wanted to find out.

Of course, we all know that the sun can be incredibly harmful to our skin if we don’t protect it properly. There are conflicting reports on whether or not sunscreen is actually effective in protecting against the sun’s harmful rays, and more research is being done to figure out which kinds are better than others.

That being said, it’s the best remedy we have right now if we’re going to be out in the sun. Livestrong recently did some research into which kinds of sunscreens are most effective. We highly suggest you read this list!

Ahh, looks relaxing! Image via BBC

If you’re going to tan, doing it naturally is best – no tanning beds! But there are also a few other important tips to keep in mind before you head to the beach.

Be sure to have an option for shade, and use it consistently – you should only lay out in the sun for short periods of time. You also shouldn’t tan midday (between 12PM and 2PM) because the UVA\UVBs are the strongest at this time, which can lead to devastating effects on your skin and health. Keep that sunscreen in your beach bag, since you should be reapplying sunscreen every hour to two hours, even if it’s “waterproof” or “sweatproof.”

Don’t forget that water bottle either! Being out in the sun, sweating and battling the heat can dehydrate you quickly.

The summer sun feels nice, but you should take shade breaks regularly! Via Health

So are there any special risks to tanning topless? From what we could gather, sort of. You don’t only risk the common effects of too much tanning, like hyper pigmentation, wrinkles, sun spots, and potential cancers.

The skin on your breasts and around your nipples will be especially sensitive to the sun, as it’s often not exposed to outside elements. It’s important to ensure that if you’re going to sunbathe topless, you’re using sunscreen with high SPF and reapplying often.

On the flipside, there are lots of health benefits to sun tanning if you do it properly. The Vitamin D we receive when the sun hits our skin has a multitude of positive effects on our health, such as improving our bone health, blood pressure, and our immune system.

Ever wonder why they call it the happy vitamin? It makes us feel good when we have the right levels!

Embrace that sun; just do it wisely! Image via Stemology

Ultimately, the decision is up to you whether or not to tan topless. As long as you’re controlling your exposure to the sun and you’re protecting your skin, we say why not?

Will YOU tan topless this summer?

Let us know in the comments below!

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Until next time,

Alicia