Losing the ability to tan?

I'm half islander, so I've always been naturally tan and as a child I got really dark after little time in the sun. However, as I got older I started staying indoors more and wore a lot of jeans and sleeves–I got pretty pale, if I'm honest. However, the other day I went to an amusement park and my entire face got sunburned, for the first time.

Can you lose the ability to tan? If so, is there anyway to regain the ability?

(I know a lot of sun exposer is bad for the skin, and I'm not planning on lying in the sun unprotected, but I'm just wondering.)