As Skin Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, the Dermatology Providers at Alaska Center for Dermatology are encouraging patients to be cautious of dangerous tanning trends circulating across social media. While TikTok and Instagram may glamorize bronzed skin and dramatic tan lines, many of these viral “hacks” can lead to serious skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer.
Below are five harmful tanning trends that Dermatology Providers say people should avoid, and why they can be dangerous for your skin.
1. UV Index Tanning
One popular trend encourages users to check the daily UV index and intentionally tan when UV levels are highest to darken their skin more quickly. While this may speed up tanning, it also dramatically increases exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Why it’s harmful:
Peak UV hours are when the sun’s rays are strongest and most damaging. Excessive UV exposure accelerates premature aging, causes sunburns, triggers hyperpigmentation, and significantly increases the risk of skin cancer, including melanoma.
2. “Sunburnt Tan Lines”
Another concerning trend involves users intentionally burning their skin to create bold bikini, sock, or strap tan lines for social media photos. Some videos even suggest that getting burned first will help create a “better” tan later.
Why it’s harmful:
There is no such thing as a healthy sunburn. A sunburn is a visible sign of DNA damage to the skin. Repeated burns increase the risk of skin cancer and can lead to long-term skin damage such as wrinkles, dark spots, and loss of elasticity. The Skin Cancer Foundation warns that a history of five or more sunburns doubles your risk of developing melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer.
3. Mixing Tanning Oils With Sunscreen
Some influencers promote mixing tanning oils, bronzing products, or body oils directly into sunscreen to tan faster while still claiming to stay protected.
Why it’s harmful:
Sunscreen is specifically formulated and tested to provide a certain SPF level. Mixing it with oils or other products can dilute its effectiveness and create uneven coverage, leaving skin vulnerable to UV damage. Plus, products such as tanning oils are designed to intensify UV exposure – the exact opposite of what sunscreen is intended to do.
4. Using Baby Oil or Tanning Accelerators
Older tanning methods have resurfaced online, including applying baby oil or tanning accelerators before sun exposure to achieve a deeper tan more quickly. There is even one trend circulating that recommends using beer to help you tan.
Why it’s harmful:
These products can intensify the sun’s rays, increasing the likelihood of severe burns. Many offer little to no UV protection, essentially amplifying skin damage while giving users a false sense of confidence in the sun.
5. Skipping Sunscreen to “Tan Better”
A growing misconception online is that sunscreen completely prevents tanning, leading some users to avoid SPF altogether intentionally.
Why it’s harmful:
Skipping sunscreen exposes the skin directly to harmful UVA and UVB rays. While sunscreen may not completely stop tanning, it helps reduce the amount of UV damage the skin absorbs. Going without protection greatly increases the risk of sunburn, premature aging, and skin cancer.
Alaska Center for Dermatology reminds patients that a tan is not a sign of healthy skin – it is the skin’s response to injury from ultraviolet radiation. Dr. Peter Ehrnstrom stresses that when the skin turns red, tan, or brown from exposure, it is working overtime to repair DNA damage caused by that exposure. Even trends that appear harmless online can have long-term consequences for skin health.
At Alaska Center for Dermatology, patient health and skin safety remain the top priority. Our Dermatology Providers believe it is important to help patients distinguish between skin care facts and harmful online trends by providing accurate, science-backed information on sun protection and skin cancer prevention. By educating patients about the risks associated with excessive UV exposure and dangerous tanning practices, the Alaska Center for Dermatology team hopes to empower the community to make informed decisions that support long-term skin health.
Make an appointment with one of our experienced Dermatology Providers or call us at 907.646.8500.