Skin cancer experts are warning against a concerning TikTok trend encouraging young people to tan in dangerous UV radiation conditions despite constant sun safety warnings.
Videos posted to the app encouraging people to tan during high levels of ultraviolet radiation have gone viral, leading many to see UV as a good thing. According to the Cancer Society, UV radiation is the leading cause of melanoma and other forms of cancer in New Zealand.
The videos promote using the UV index, a measurement of the amount of UV reaching Earth and its potential to damage the body, as a tool rather than a warning.
Some encourage people to tan at levels between seven and 11, which range between high and extreme. You’re normally supposed to apply skin protection or even outright avoid the sun at these levels. Anything above a three means sun protection is required.
Cancer Society researcher Dr Bronwen McNoe said her greatest concern was that young people “are permanently damaging their skin, permanently increasing their risk of skin cancer and that can’t be reversed”.
“It’s frustrating, really, that something that’s been designed for the purposes of informing people about when to use sun protection so they’re safe is being used against us.”
Despite years of SunSmart campaigns, New Zealand has one of the world’s highest skin cancer rates. The latest trend is only fuelling concerns.
“Two in three New Zealanders will get a skin cancer in their lifetime, and it’s currently costing our health system over $330 million a year to treat,” McNoe said.
“Going out onto the beach with much higher levels of UV – up around the 10 and 11 – which is really extreme levels and therefore extreme risk of skin damage.”
McNoe said there’s no such thing as a “safe way to tan”. But if you are heading out, the most important things to pack are sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, cover-up clothing, and some shade.
She added the parents of those on TikTok should encourage them to “use fake tan if necessary, so take a pragmatic approach”.
“If you’re absolutely adamant that you want to have tanned skin, just fake it. Use one of the fake tanning products.”