I don't use sunscreen.  If you cover yourself completely with sunscreen it can lower your body's ability to cool. Not good if you are running on hot days. 

Yes, I don't use sunscreen either. If I feel like I've had too much sun, then I go find some shade! 

I was thinking of going to a tanning salon throughout the winter to keep my tan so I don't burn next spring.

What's everyone's thoughts on this? I can't find unbiased information on it.

I was thinking of going to a tanning salon throughout the winter to keep my tan so I don't burn next spring.

What's everyone's thoughts on this? I can't find unbiased information on it.

I've noticed since being on the paleo diet that I don't burn easily, but do tan quite easily. I remember other people in past posts noticing similar changes too. So maybe come next spring building up your tan won't be as difficult as you now think. That being said I think it is still important be cautious and gradually build a tan.

Tanning beds scare me. I have been to them before and I find them a lot less predictable than the sun as far as when they make you burn. Also, I've read about tanning beds in "The Protein Power Lifeplan" book by Michael and Mary Eades. It's a book I'd recommend. One chapter is all about the importance of sunshine. It does mention the dangers of tanning beds. They pointed out a study where skin cancer in rats was more related to exposure to UVA than to UVB. "Research has shown that exposing laboratory mice to a combination of the UVA and UVB wavelengths found in sunlight resulted in the development of skin cancers similar to squamous cell cancer in 80 percent of the animals, while exposure to UVB wavelengths alone caused such cancers to develop in only 17 percent of animals. Clearly, the impact of UVA light far exceeded that of UVB in promoting squamous cell skin cancers....This connection of UVA and melanoma should be cause for concern for the millions of people who bake to a golden brown in tanning beds equipped with "safe tanning" UVA lights or who spend endless hours in sun worship, under the "protective" security blanket of a UVB-blocking sunscreen, even if it contains a partial UVA blocker."

I now do not use tanning beds or sunscreen. The only reason I would ever consider going to a tanning bed would be if I were to go on a tropical vacation in the winter because I know I would want to stay in the sun for a while each day but I really don't like sunscreens. I really don't know which one is more dangerous - tanning beds or sunscreens. Burning is probably the most dangerous though. In the end I have a feeling I would just stay under a tree during the real heat of the day and build up my tan in the morning and/or late afternoon. This would still allow to be out in the sun for a significant amount of time and not burn.

I think the best idea is to try and still get sun on your skin in the winter. Depending on where you live it could be more possible than you think. My mom lives in Montana and manages to sunbathe most of the year because Montana gets a lot of sunny days and she protects herself from the wind. Protection from the wind is key. I like to try and get a little sun in the winter more for the vit D than retaining a tan.

hmmm...i've known that sunscreen had a lot of crud in it that i didn't like (i try to avoid a lot of chemicals). i rarely use sunscreen.

Il Capo, I agree. I don't think sunscreen is the answer though.  I'm really pale and burn very easily at the latitude I live at, so when I think I've had enough sun I cover myself up or get out of the sun.  I haven't run into a situation yet where either of those options has been impractical.

Awesome article, thank you! : )

I was thinking of going to a tanning salon throughout the winter to keep my tan so I don't burn next spring.

What's everyone's thoughts on this? I can't find unbiased information on it.

No, no. Sunbeds do not have the same ratio of UVA to UVB as the sun. Tanning beds and sun lamps generally emit 93% to 99% UVA radiation (which means they emit 40% less of vitamin-D making UVB than the sun). It is better to go outside and lay in the sun that naturally has the perfect ratio... even in winter. Just expose your face and arms and you should get enough.
I am sure we can all agree: don't mess with nature.