Does Sun Help Acne? We Demystify Acne and Sun Exposure

As the most common skin disease in the United States, acne has no shortage of misconceptions and myths floating around it. Perhaps one of the most dangerous misconceptions regarding acne is the belief that the sun can somehow reduce pimples and “cure” acne.

While it’s easy to understand why so many people believe this myth, we feel that it’s necessary to set the record straight. Using sun exposure as a treatment for acne can have several short- and long-term consequences that can affect not only your skin, but also your overall health and well-being.

Here are several things you should know about sun exposure and its effects on acne:

• The sun doesn’t eliminate acne or cure it. Sun exposure only makes acne less visible due to the darkening of the skin.
• Sun exposure can worsen acne by causing inflammation and additional breakouts.
• The sun is not a safe or effective form of acne treatment and only increases your risk of skin cancer.

Acne and Sun Exposure—Uncovering the Myth

Why do so many people still believe that sun exposure is beneficial to acne? Here are the two biggest reasons why this myth still hangs around:

1. Tanning Makes Acne Less Noticeable—If you’ve ever noticed that your pimples become less visible after spending a day in the sun, it’s not just your imagination. When UV rays penetrate the skin, it triggers the production of melanin as a defense mechanism to protect the skin from additional sun damage. This protective pigment darkens the surrounding skin, resulting in a tan that makes your acne less noticeable.

2. Outdated Studies—Not helping to squash this myth are several earlier studies that have supported the idea that sun exposure may benefit acne. In a 2005 systematic review published in Family Practice, the authors noted a commonly held belief among both the medical community and lay people alike that sun exposure was therapeutic for acne. This was likely because the condition tended to improve during the summer and worsen during the winter (see claim, page 62: “There has been a lay and traditional dermatological opinion that sunlight exposure was beneficial in acne and that this caused acne to improve in summer and worsen in winter…”)

Researchers now know that the colder months can worsen acne in several ways, one of which is by drying out the skin and triggering the oil glands to overcompensate. To sum things up neatly, it’s not that the summer is beneficial to acne, but rather that winter can be harsher on the skin.

The True Effects of Sun on Acne

We’ve already established that sun exposure is not an effective form of acne treatment. On the contrary, it can make it much worse.

Inflammation—The sun’s ultraviolet rays can trigger your immune system’s inflammatory response, especially if you have an existing skin condition that makes you sensitive to the sun. Those who suffer from photosensitivity can develop an itchy, red rash due to their body’s immune system misinterpreting sun-altered skin as a foreign invader.

Skin Cancer—The threat of skin cancer is one of the main reasons why you shouldn’t use the sun to reduce the appearance of acne. According to a 2012 study published in BMC Cancer, researchers concluded that sunlight exposure, whether it was intermittent or continuous, is associated with both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (see claim: “…sunlight exposure is associated with both BCC and SCC risk regardless of the pattern in which the exposure was received (i.e., intermittent vs. continuous).”)

Unprotected sun exposure can also increase your risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. To stay safe and reduce your risk, it’s critical that you seek a more effective treatment for your acne.

Blemishes—If you already suffer from acne scars that won’t go away, sunbathing is the last thing you want to do. Sun exposure can result in visible signs of sun damage such as sun spots and melasma. It can also lead to premature wrinkles and fine lines on your face if you aren’t protecting it with a daily moisturizer with SPF.

Sweat—Sunburns can raise your internal body temperature and cause excessive sweating. Sweat provides the ultimate habitat for bacteria to thrive and worsen your acne breakouts.

The Bottom Line

While sun exposure can make your acne less visible in the short term, it can also make it much worse by causing inflammation, sun damage and environments where bacteria can thrive. More importantly, it can increase your risk of skin cancer such as deadly melanoma.

There are far more effective acne treatment solutions on the market these days. If you haven’t heard about Tiege Hanley’s Acne Treatment System, we encourage you to give it a shot. Check out the many reviews from real guys who have tried Tiege Hanley and highly rated the results.