Dermatologists are warning of potential dangers
Gen Z, the new-generation tanning and skin cancer believers
Despite the warnings on the dangers of exposure to UV rays, many in Gen Z are participating in tanning culture and using the UV index not, to avoid sunburn, but to time their sunbathing to maximize their sun exposure.
In a recent survey by the American Academy of Dermatology, 35% of Americans reported having a sunburn last year. The numbers are even higher among younger adults, where nearly half of Gen Z and millennials reported getting at least one sunburn. Couple this data with the stat that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer, and suddenly these statistics feel alarming. What’s even scarier? Having five sunburns more than doubles your chance of getting melanoma—the most deadly form of skin cancer.
Gen Z ironically grew up hearing the mantra to practice sun safety. Many children wore rash guards, mineral-based sunscreens, and sunhats while being protected by stroller awnings boasting UPF 50 suntan protection. Parents of Gen Z kids, who are predominantly Gen Xers and elder millennials, grew up in a time period where dictating sun safety meant slathering baby oil on their skin and toasting themselves in the sun with minimal SPF and the sun being the most prevalent weather pattern. After their kids had to learn the hard lesson of sun safety…
But now not only are kids rewriting the rules, many young adults are checking the UV index to find out what time of day is best for achieving the perfect tan. On social media, the sun-kissed influencer and golden skin seems to be the ultimate idol. Tan lines are trendy again. More and more tanning oils with very low SPF are becoming popular.
Tanning is having a cultural moment right now—and not the good kind. After decades of messaging about the dangers of UV radiation, many young people are still choosing aesthetics over their health, and they are doing so unknowingly and putting their health at serious risk, for a bronze glow.
America’s Skin Is Paying the Price: Tanning and Sunburn Rates Surge in 2024
Concerns over sun safety are rising in the U.S., https://www.aad.org/news/survey-gen-z-sunburned and a survey released by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)https://www.aad.org/ sheds light on how Americans avail themselves of the sun today compared to four years ago. In 2024, Americans are tanning or getting darker skin to the tune of 67%, up significantly from 25% in 2020.
The report also indicated recent increases in sunburn. Over the last four years, sunburn rates have increased by at least 10%, to a staggering 35% this year! Elucidating this alarming number further, 10% of those who claimed to have a sunburn experienced blistering sunburns! Even more of a concern lies with the under-30 set (Gen Z and millennials) where almost half reported suffering from a sunburn!
America’s love for tanned skin may be costing it dearly.
While 96% of people recognize the importance of sun protection, only 56% say that they use it consistently. Gen Z seems to be particularly at risk in terms of skincare myths—25% got a D or F on sun safety knowledge tests. There is a huge disparity between awareness and behavior which is concerning.
Playing With Fire
What Young People Should Understand About the UV Index, According to Dermatologists
Many younger people think of a higher UV index as a green light to get a better tan; in fact, it is just the opposite. The UV index is a measure of how strong the sun’s ultraviolet radiation levels are, weighing in on a scale from 0 to 11, and higher numbers indicate the possibility of skin damage, not a better tan.
“Young people have really misunderstood what the UV index means,” says Dr. Susan C. Taylor, an associate professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, and the current president of the American Academy of Dermatology. “A high UV reading shows that the UV rays are stronger and can do damage quickly, so the most important thing is to step up your sun protection.”
When the index is high, dermatologists suggest to cut down on sun exposure between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm and that people wear multiple forms of protection, including wide-brimmed hats, UV blocking sunglasses, and protective pieces of clothing like rash guards.
And while there is no reason to skip sun protection on a day with a low UV index, it can be a mistake, as even opening the blinds to let in sunshine can affect UV levels, and while clouds naturally can reduce UV levels, they can only do that to some extent, and depending on what type of cloud has rolled in, yuou could still be susceptible to elevated UV levels.
Is a Tan Just a Sunburn? Understanding the Hidden Skin Damage Behind Your Summer Glow
How Bad is a Sunburn, Anyway?
Think of a sunburn as a wound covering your entire body. “It’s like scraping your skin and getting a scab,” Dr. Taylor explains. “You have injured your skin when you get sunburned. The redness and the peeling is your body trying to heal itself and what you may think is a tan afterward is actually a scar.”
You are actually getting injured even if you don’t think you are burning at all. “UV rays actually have the power to damage DNA in your skin cells,” adds Dr. Ellen Marmur, a New York City dermatologist. “Injury to your skin causes it to produce melanin for protection. So when you see tan, your skin is signaling it is injured.”
Repeated sunburns can massively increase your risk of many forms of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, but most importantly melanoma, whose potential for becoming life-threatening is related to its ability to spread. Studies show that about 20% of Americans will get skin cancer in their lives and that if you get five serious sunburns, your chances of getting melanoma are more than doubled.
Tan Now, Pay Later
Regularly Getting Sunburned Can Cause Long-lasting Skin Damage
If you get sunburned often, you’re not only going to suffer from redness and pain—you could also be left with long-lasting damage that could be years in the making. Skin damage will not always show up right away, but over time, Ultraviolet light can cause all sorts of things like fine lines, dark spots, melasma (brewing patches from the sun and/or hormonal changes), broken blood vessels, uneven tone, and dull skin.
“Skin protection in early life is similar to long-term investing. Every time you put on sunscreen, you are not spending money on lasers and fillers and surgeries in the future,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ellen Marmur.
Despite the increasing interest among Gen Z in non-invasive beauty procedures (not to mention the rise of plastic surgeries and cosmetic procedures), many still don’t see the value in protecting themselves daily from the sun’s rays. An AAD survey found that more than one in five young adults would prefer to tan than protect their skin, and a quarter of respondents would rather look good now even if it meant ongoing skin damage from the sun in the first place.
“It’s hard to explain to someone in their twenties why they will likely be having injections or surgeries in 20 years to take away the damage when the consequences don’t seem immediate,” says Marmur. “It all seems very hypothetical.”
Welcome to #TanTok
Why Is This Happening? Experts Blame Social Media Trends
Dermatologists are outraged—and some are direct with their accusations. Many dermatologists are pointing the finger directly at sites like TikTok. There’s a new trend where liking deeply tanned skin while viewing sunscreen in a negative light is celebrated. Many of the posts circulating have titles such as “My Top Tanning Tips,” “Best UV Index to Bronzed Skin,” or “How to Keep Your Tan.” Some of these posts have garnered hundreds of thousands of views and likes.
“Sunscreen is evil! Sunscreen causes cancer! All the chemicals are bad!” Dr. Marmur comments mockingly on some videos.
Dr. Taylor is a dermatologist and parent of a Gen Z daughter, so she understands this movement in the context of social media. “There is an influence. I don’t have the data yet, but it is clear to me from what I see. These kids are being influenced by what they are seeing,” she states.
There has been an increase of reported sunburns recently in the last three years following a survey of dermatologists. Dr. Marmur says there was an approximately 10% increase in people reporting sunburn in 2020. This change is likely connected to the increase in social media usage following the COVID lockdown, in which many people could likely pay more attention to their phones and their feeds. “People were on their phones perhaps more than ever,” Dr. Marmur states. “It is not the trend of taking sun-drenched selfies—it is also the large amount of misinformation that is out there. For example, some influencers and self-proclaimed biohackers have some outlandish statements that lack evidence to support their claims, such as using UV to live longer or extending the lifespan.”
The Turning Point
How can dermatologists and researchers best have conversations and remind their themes of the increased risk of skin cancer that unprotected sun exposure provides? Dr. Marmur suggests stealing concepts from cognitive behavioural therapy. “If you want that bronzed, sun-kissed look, don’t damage your skin with either actual UV damage, or from a tanning bed,” states Dr. Marmur. “Instead use self-tanners and bronzing products.” Dr. Marmur also states a ‘no sun ever’ way of thinking is not sustainable or attractive. “Live your life outside but learn about the better way to have sun-exposure,” she says. “The best health decisions you make today can save you much regret and poor decisions down the road.”
Dr. Taylor adds celebrities and similar influencers can promote skin-lightening trends and thereby redefine beauty standards. “Celebrities sometimes have trends as they promote the idea that lighter, natural skin can be beautiful,” Dr. Taylor explains. Moreover, sharing real-life stories of young people facing skin cancer, even sometimes those who undergo surgery that changes their appearance, can strongly resonate with both Gen Z and the next Alpha generation. “Focusing on the serious elements of sun damage, sometimes the harsh remediation because of sun damage is especially powerful,” Dr. Taylor mentions. “Our role is to keep the conversation going.”
In short, for sun safety to be taken seriously by today’s youth through their parents’ example, health professionals, educators, and influencers will need to take a new approach and appeal to them with messages that actually makes a connection.
While social media post can disappear in a day, the impacts of sun damage last forever.
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