A troubling trend has been gaining traction among teenagers and young adults: increasing sun exposure for a “perfect tan.” Medical experts have long documented the ultraviolet (UV) exposure risks such as increased skin cancer rates, melasma and skin aging; however, social media influencers are spreading dangerous tanning misinformation to their followers.
What’s more is a recent American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) survey of 1,000 people between the ages of 18-29, indicated that nearly one-third of respondents said “getting a tan was more important to them than preventing skin cancer.”
How did we get here?
Social media is rife with false claims that safe sunscreen ingredients are more harmful than UV rays, sunscreen is unnecessary, the sun does not cause skin cancer, cooling down the skin can prevent sunburns and that more time outside results in fewer sunburns. This tanning misinformation is causing confusion and concern, while putting people’s health and safety at risk.
According to the AAD, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, a rising number largely attributed to more time in the sun and insufficient safe-sun practices such as seeking shade, wearing sun-protective clothing and regularly applying sunscreen. Despite this, the youth tanning trends have gained traction on social media.
The bottom line on sun safety
The science is clear: children, teens and adults should follow the advice of scientific and medical professionals and limit UV exposure and use broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15. Consumers have many sunscreen options to choose from – sticks, lotions, sprays, gels – to meet different preferences and needs. Ultimately, the best and safest sunscreen option is the one consumers use regularly to help minimize the risk of skin cancer and sunburns.