What happens to our bodies when we tan?
Tanning of the skin is a complex process and has three different phases, according to dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson Dr Emma Wedgeworth.
The first phase is
immediate pigment darkening (IPD) which happens directly when our skin is exposed to sunshine (or UV rays). IPD occurs as a result of a change and redistribution of pre-existing melanin – the natural pigment that is responsible for producing the colour in our skin, hair and eyes.
If you spot tan lines appearing after a few hours indoors, this can be attributed to the second phase of tanning: