If you’re tanning in the sun, it can take as little as fifteen minutes to get a bit of a suntan on exposed skin. The length of time required for a tan depends on your global location, the position of the sun, your skin’s propensity to tan and how much sunscreen you apply. Being exposed to the sun for a long period of time can lead to burning and increases the likelihood of skin cancer as well. Spray tanners might be a more suitable option to decrease health risks.