This Dangerous Tanning Trend Has Been Taking Over TikTok – And it’s Not Good

Is this the early 2000s all over again?

If you’ve been on TikTok at any point in the past month or so, you’ve probably seen videos of people after the beach/pool flaunting their halter neck tan lines. Their method for this bronzy glow? Laying in the sun when the UV index is at extremely dangerous levels of 10 or higher.

The specific hashtag to do with this trend has over 200 million views on TikTok with videos encouraging people to tan during high levels of ultraviolet radiation (UV), including clips telling people to come “UV tan” with them.

In all seriousness, purposely sunburning tan lines onto your chest (or any kind of tanning in the sun) is a terrible idea for your skin, eyes and overall health. While all those TikToks with extreme tan lines might look admirable, it’s something best to avoid when going to the beach or out in the sun.

So, if you’ve seen this trend on your feed or FYP, we’re begging you to please swipe and disregard. Because according to experts, this is a terrible thing to do to your body.

Anything above a level 3 UV means sun protection is required.

 

UV rating	Category
1, 2	Low
3, 4, 5,	Moderate
6, 7	High
8, 9, 10	Very High
11 and higher	Extreme

 

Source: Cancer Council Australia

“There’s no such thing as a safe tan,” Cancer Council CEO Mark Nevin tells the ABC.

“This behaviour is dangerous as young people are purposefully exposing themselves to harmful UV radiation and putting themselves at an increased risk of developing skin cancer.”

Some people have promoted and used an app that uses AI to create ‘personalised tanning routines’ even claiming that it can give you a faster tanning routine that won’t give you skin cancer.

What are the dangers of tanning?

Melanin is the brown pigment that causes tanning and it’s the body’s way of protecting the skin from burning.

Tanning does not protect against sunburn and instead actually exposes you to more harmful UV rays.

And there are heaps of dangers associated with tanning and sunburns - greatly increasing your risk of developing skin cancer, damage to your eyesight from the UV rays and premature aging signs like wrinkles, dark spots and leathery skin.

How can I be more sun smart?

There is no way to tan in the sun safely without putting yourself at risk. However, an alternative to tanning in the sun if you really want that bronze glow is to use a fake tanning mousse or gel.

You can tan around a bikini or body tape to get those halter neck tan lines without the risk of getting leathery skin, wrinkles or skin cancer.

You can also avoid going into the sun when the UV index is at extreme levels. If you are planning on going outside, make sure you wear a hat, sunglasses and a shirt. Also, ensure that the sunscreen you’re using is at least 50+ SPF.

Make the smart decision and don’t burn yourself to a crisp just to follow a beauty trend that you saw online.

This article does not constitute personal medical advice. Before acting on any information in this article, you should consider your personal health circumstances and ensure it is appropriate to you. For more information, contact your personal health practitioner.