After such a soggy spring, the summer’s sunny rays and the glow of a deep dark tan are tempting.

Or maybe the allure of the tan didn’t wait for the spring clouds to clear and appointments were made for tanning beds a long time ago.

Either way, tanners should be fully aware of what they are doing to their skin — the human body’s largest organ.

Dr. David Cowan, a dermatologist with the Butler Health System’s Dermatology Center on Main Street, said that ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB, from both sun tanning and tanning booths can cause various forms of skin cancer or melanoma.

“The amount of radiation emitted from tanning devices is not uniform or tightly regulated and can in some cases exceed the amount of radiation one receives from natural sunlight,” Cowan said.

“There is increasing data that tanning bed use is directly related to the development of melanoma as well as basal cell and squamous cell cancers. In addition, tanning bed use leads to other unwanted side effects such as accelerating photoaging (wrinkles and discoloration) and causing burns as well as potential damage to the eyes.”

As far as which is better or worse — tanning in the sun or tanning in a booth — Cowan said at minimum there is an equal risk.

“The caveat is that with natural sun exposure people are often partially covered, wearing sunscreen, or in shade whereas in tanning beds you are intentionally exposing most of your body, usually without the use of sunscreen,” he said.

Preventive measures, such as sunscreen are important, Cowan said.

“In terms of efficacy, obviously avoidance (of tanning) is best,” he said.

But if you are going to be outside, it is usually best to avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

“In my mind, covering up, even with light clothing, is a very effective method of sun protection and second best after avoidance,” Cowan said. “I recommend broad-brimmed hats and loose-fitting long sleeves and long pants, when possible.

“Sunglasses are also a critical and often forgotten part of sun protection,” he added. “When it is not possible to avoid the sun or cover up, especially for certain parts of the body such as the face, neck, hands, I recommend sunscreen.”

But with sunscreens there are a multitude of options. Which is the best?

“A broad spectrum sunscreen, which means it protects against UVA and UVB, should be applied daily to exposed skin, as recent studies have shown that this kind of use may reduce your risk of melanoma and other forms of skin cancer,” Cowan said.

Cowan said sunscreen should even be used on cloudy days, as most UV rays penetrate the clouds. Sunscreens should be applied at least 15 minutes before sun exposure.

The most important factor in sunscreen use is applying the correct amount. Sunscreen should be applied in larger amounts that most people would expect. In fact most people apply only 25 percent to 50 percent of the sunscreen needed to reach the advertised sun protection level.

“As a rule of thumb, one ounce, enough to fill a shot glass, is considered the amount needed to cover the exposed areas of the body properly. This is about one-eighth of a typical bottle of sunscreen.”

Sunscreens should be reapplied about every two hours, or after swimming or perspiring heavily.

It is important to note, Cowan said, that SPF, sun protective factor, is only a measure of UVB protection. There is no easy means to measure how much UVA protection a sunscreen offers.

“The number, for example SPF 15, means that when applied at the proper thickness, you can spend 15 times longer in the sun than you normally would before getting a sunburn. The higher the number, the longer the protection offered,” he said.

“In reality, above 50 or so, there is probably very little difference in the protection. The more important factors are making sure you apply enough and that you reapply it every few hours, especially when sweating or spending a lot of time in water.

“For regular outdoor use, I recommend a water-resistant sunscreen of at least 30 SPF and it should contain the description ‘broad-spectrum,’” Cowan added.

For those who are concerned about the condition of their skin or if they might have skin cancer, Cowan said he recommends patients conduct a monthly self- examination of their skin.

“New lesions should be noted and if they look different than other spots on their body, especially if they are dark, irregularly shaped, or changing, they should be evaluated by your doctor,” he said. “Skin cancer often doesn’t hurt, though occasionally a spot will itch or, rarely, cause pain. Any spot that bleeds should also be evaluated.”