Combatting Harmful Trends That Increases Cancer Risk
Health experts and dermatologists are sounding the alarm on social media tanning trends, warning that these habits significantly raise the risk of skin cancer.
There are three primary types of skin cancer—basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Melanoma is the most dangerous, known for its ability to spread quickly to other parts of the body.
UVB rays are responsible for sunburns, skin aging, and cancer. Meanwhile, UVA rays penetrate deeper, even through windows and glass, causing long-term damage beneath the skin’s surface.
Tanning beds emit harmful UV radiation, increasing cancer risk. Safer alternatives like spray tans or sunless lotions can provide a sun-kissed glow without the danger.
Broad-spectrum sunscreens guard against both UVA and UVB rays, shielding skin from the full range of sun-induced damage.
Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher for optimal protection—and reapply as directed, especially after swimming or sweating.
Limit sun exposure during peak hours (10 AM to 2 PM) when UV radiation is at its strongest, reducing the risk of long-term skin damage
As summer sunshine burns bright, the quest for that golden-bronze tan still runs deep—even in the face of well-documented skin cancer risks. While health experts sound the alarm year after year, a growing number of TikTok users are prioritizing clout over caution, turning tanning into a trending topic.
On TikTok, Gen Z users (ages 13 to 28) are sharing sun-soaked tips and sunbathing hacks with viral enthusiasm. One such user, “Cassmsslater,” a mom of two, praised her “tanning pool”—an inflatable setup the size of a twin bed.
“Since getting this, we have only not used it one day when it was a little chilly! Such a good summer investment for myself and the kids,” she wrote in a caption.
In her video, she touts the pool’s practicality:
“This is my tanning pool. I can lie in it and tan without getting sweaty…the middle is like an air mattress…I recommend that you get yourself a tanning pool. They are so much more affordable than you’d expect.”
Another TikTok creator, “YouCanCallMeKindizzle,” showcased sharp bikini tan lines with pride, prompting a mix of admiration and concern in the comments.
“Tanning routine, please, girl,” one user chimed in.
“The sun does age you, and you have to worry about skin cancer too,” countered another commenter, Morgan.
The tanning discourse online doesn’t stop at technique—it often spills over into skepticism about sun protection. In one viral video, TikTok user “NutritionScientist” (Simon Hill) raised questions about sunscreen safety.
“There are certain sunscreens that have molecules that can cross the blood-brain barrier. You can find them in neurons ten years after people have used sunscreen topically.”
However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), skin cancer remains the most common cancer in the U.S., and overexposure to UV rays—from the sun, tanning beds, or sunlamps—is the leading cause. Among the various types, melanoma is especially dangerous because it can spread rapidly if untreated.
Melanoma begins in the melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin, hair, and eye pigment. When these cells mutate, they can travel through the body and invade other organs.
So, while the aesthetic pull of a tan remains strong, dermatologists recommend a safer path forward: consistent use of sunscreen and non-UV options, such as spray tans.
Dr. Catherine Pisano, who works in Cutaneous Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, advises individuals seeking the most effective sunscreen available, similar to those found in Europe, to look for broad-spectrum sunscreens that protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
“U.S. sunscreens are categorized as chemical or physical blockers. Physical blockers consisting of products with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as the primary ingredient protect against both UVB and UVA, whereas chemical blockers are often only effective in protection against either UVB or UVA rays,” Dr. Pisano explained to SurvivorNet.
WATCH: Choosing the right sunscreen to protect yourself from skin cancer.
Dermatologist Dr. Cecilia Larocca echoed Dr. Pisano’s recommendation and recommended using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
How Often Should I Reapply Sunscreen?
If you’re looking forward to spending more time outside this summer, remember to apply broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face, ears, back of hands, scalp, tops of feet, and neck daily, including cloudy days. UVA rays can also penetrate glass and windows, so sun protection is needed even indoors at times.
SPF lip balm is recommended to protect your lips from harmful sun rays and skin cancer on or in your mouth.
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“Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes prior to going outdoors and reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating,” Dr. Pisano said.
The average adult should use one ounce of sunscreen, roughly the size of a shot glass, to cover the entire body.
It is also recommended to avoid sun exposure during peak hours, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest.
The Dangers of Unsafe Tanning
According to the FDA, indoor tanning beds emit a type of UV ray, and UV exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer. (The sun also emits UV rays)
The National Center for Biotechnology Information published a 2011 study by Yale Cancer Center researchers examining the association between indoor tanning and the risk of early-onset basal cell carcinoma. It concluded tanning beds were a “strong risk factor.
The study’s researchers reported that young people who tanned indoors had a 69% increased risk of developing early-onset BCC.
Jamaican Reggae musician Bob Marley performs onstage, New York, New York, October 1979. (Photo by Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images)
Indoor tanning was strikingly common in our study of young skin cancer patients, especially in women, which may partially explain why 70% of early-onset BCCs occur in females, as researcher Susan T. Mayne said to Yale Daily News.
Meanwhile, the American Academy of Dermatology states that a single indoor tanning session can increase the risk of melanoma by 20% and squamous cell carcinoma by 67%.
A study published recently in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, suggests that banning tanning beds among minors would prevent thousands of cases of melanoma in adolescents and save millions of dollars in healthcare costs.
Studies have shown that exposure to tanning beds increases the risk of skin cancer and ocular cancer, according to Dr. Lynn A. Cornelius, chief of the Division of Dermatology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. This exposure also induces changes that lead to premature skin aging. There is no tanning bed.
Dr. Cornelius recommends spray tans and sunless tanning lotions as safer alternatives to tanning beds. While everyone should take precautions to avoid inhaling the product when getting a spray tan, allergic reactions are rare, he said.
Be on the Lookout for Signs of Skin Cancer
The main types of skin cancer include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Melanoma also causes the most skin cancer deaths, according to the National Cancer Institute. It starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair, and eyes their color. In melanoma, the cells undergo a change that enables them to spread to other organs.
WATCH: Am I at risk for melanoma?
Changes to a mole you’ve had for a while or a new growth on your skin could be signs of melanoma, according to SurvivorNet’s experts. You’ll want to watch them and tell your doctor about any changes you notice.
You’re most likely to find melanoma on sun-exposed skin areas like your face, neck, arms, and legs. Surprisingly, you might also find them in other places as well, like:
The palms of your hands or soles of your feet
On your eyes or mouth
Under your nails
WATCH: The self-exam you should give yourself when checking for signs of skin cancer.
When you check your skin, use the acronym ABCDE as your guide. Look for:
Asymmetrical moles: If you drew a line straight down the center of the mole, would the sides match?
Borders: Is the mole irregular or jagged?
Colors: Are there multiple distinct colors in the mole?
Diameter: Is the mole larger than 6 millimeters (mm), about the size of a pencil head eraser?
Evolution: Has the mole’s color, shape, or size changed over time?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, our experts say it’s time to see your dermatologist for a skin check.
People with Darker Skin Complexions Also Face Skin Cancer Risks
A rare form of melanoma called acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) impacted Bob Marley. According to research published in the medical journal Neoplasia, acral melanoma “arises on the non-hair bearing skin of the nail bed, palms of the hand and soles of the feet” and is not linked to sun ultraviolet (UV) light like other skin cancers.
This rare subtype of melanoma is more common among people of Black, Hispanic/Latin, and Asian descent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “Non-Hispanic Black people are often diagnosed with melanoma at later stages, and the predominant histologic types of melanomas that occur in non-Hispanic Black people have poorer survival rates than the most common types among non-Hispanic white people.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, you may have some questions for your doctor. SurvivorNet suggests some of the following to help you on your cancer journey.
What type of skin cancer do I have?
What treatment options exist for my type of melanoma?
Will insurance cover this treatment?
Would treatment through a clinical trial make sense for me?
What resources exist to help manage my anxiety because of this diagnosis?
