Las Vegas gets about 300 days of sunshine a year, so there’s no shortage of opportunities to tan. But just because you can tan doesn’t mean you should tan.
Unfortunately, that golden gleam is your body’s protective response to skin damage. “Any change in skin color from tanning is a sign of damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation,” Dr. Lawrence E. Gibson, a dermatology professor at Mayo Medical School, writes on the Mayo Clinic’s website. “Repeated exposure to UV radiation—whether from the sun or a tanning bed—increases your risk of premature skin aging and skin cancer.”
Nevertheless, it’s undeniable that tanned skin has a certain allure. “Tanning is kind of like airbrush makeup for your body,” says Kari Comrov, founder and CEO of luxury airbrush tanning salon Summer House.
So how does one get that perfected look without risking skin damage? The safest way to get that bronze glow is through sunless tanning sprays, creams, lotions or mousses. You can DIY with a drug store tanning cream or you can opt for the luxury experience a la Summer House. Just stay out of the actual sun.
Tanning Myths
Tanning improves your appearance.
Consider long-term costs versus short-term benefits. A tan might glow for a few days, but tanning will make your skin age more quickly, giving you wrinkles, age spots, loss of firmness and even leathery skin, according to the AAD. Tanning also makes stretch marks look more prominent.
Tanning without burning is safe.
Certainly, a sunburn is worse than a suntan. But any amount of tanning is a sign of DNA damage to the skin, according to the National Institutes of Health.
People with darker skin can’t get sun damage.
Skin tones that are naturally darker might be less susceptible to damage from the sun, but they aren’t immune, according to the Mayo Clinic. Possible damage can include uneven pigmentation, wrinkles and melasma (dark patches on the face). And yes, even skin cancer.
A “base tan” can prevent a sunburn.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says you can still burn, even if you have a base tan. The best way to protect your skin is through sunscreen and by wearing a hat.
Tanning is a healthy way to get vitamin D.
The best way to get more vitamin D is through supplements or food. According to skincancer.org, tanning is caused by UVA radiation, while vitamin D production is caused by UVB radiation.
Tanning beds are a safe alternative to sunlight.
“Tanning beds are just as, if not more, harmful than the sun,” says Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Jennifer Lucas. “And there is no such thing as a safe tan.” Even scarier, the AAD says that one indoor tanning session can increase the risk of skin cancer.
PREVENTING SKIN CANCER
Too much sun exposure can cause DNA damage to your skin, which in turn can cause skin cancer. The best way to prevent the harmful effects of our nearest star is to protect yourself from the sun. The American Academy of Dermatology offers these tips:
• Stay in the shade during the hottest hours of the day.
• Wear sunscreen and protective clothing.
• Watch out for the sun-doubling, reflective effects of water, snow and sand.
Downtown Summerlin’s Summer House brings luxury to airbrush tanning
Health and beauty executive Kari Comrov has always loved spa treatments. They gave the busy mother time to relax, get pampered and come out looking her best. But she had one exception: spray tanning.
“I found myself dreading the process—it wasn’t luxurious; it wasn’t pampering me. In fact, it was quite arduous. I was taking my own makeup off and putting my own barrier cream on,” Comrov recalls. “I thought, why hasn’t somebody updated this service in the 20-plus years that it’s been around?”
That was the beginning of her idea for luxury airbrush tanning salon Summer House, which opened in May. “I was excited to find what I call ‘the final frontier of beauty.’ ”
Summer House offers a personalized airbrush tan with custom color blends and skin treatments. Upon arrival, guests pick a playlist and participate in a color consultation to find their perfect tone. The rest is done for them. “You don’t do a thing when you come to Summer House except show up and relax,” Comrov says. “We really took it to the next level with our relaxation lounge, our full facial cleanser, hand and foot massage, and then, of course, the highest-quality products and colors to make sure everything is safe.”
Comrov says sunless tanning has really evolved. It’s no longer the streaky mess that turned your parents’ skin orange. “When it comes to the color, people can’t believe how natural-looking it is,” Comrov says.
Summer House has a variety of colors available: cool tones, warm tones and brown tones. “We can blend them based on their hair color, their skin, their eyes,” Comrov says. “It’s just so advanced, and the look is so natural, like they sat in the sun.”
With an airbrush tan, it’s possible to go above and beyond a flat color. Summer House’s “airbrush artists” contour the abs and legs. They can also add more tan in the places where the sun would naturally hit your skin.
So why hasn’t anyone else tried an upscale tanning salon? Comrov gets that question all the time. “It’s rare when you get to 2021 and somebody hasn’t thought of an idea yet,” says Comrov, who has big plans for Summer House’s eventual expansion. “But it still happens, and I’m just so proud to be the one to bring it to market.”
Downtown Summerlin, 1875 Festival Plaza Drive #230, 702-277-2422, summerhousetan.com. Daily, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
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