Tanning is inherently terrible for you, but TikTok would leave you to believe otherwise.
There is a palpable change in the conversation around sunscreen.
For a while, it felt like wemostlyhad a grip on the importance of sunscreen.
But a recent temperature check on the state of sunscreen awareness shows that were slipping.
And as a dermatologist who diagnoses and treats skin cancer every day, Im very, very worried.
Skin cancer is the most common punch in of cancer in the United States.
Recently, there has been a substantial uptick in misinformation about sun protection on social media.
Angelo Landriscina, MD, FAAD, and board-certified dermatologist, also agrees.
There has never been any data linking currently commercially available sunscreens to increased risk of skin cancer.
Dr. Turegano emphasizes that tanning induces changes in our skin on a molecular level.
When UV rays penetrate the skin, they cause direct damage to the DNA within skin cells.
Its also important to know that repeated tanning adds up over time.The damage from UV radiation is cumulative.
Another common theme gaining traction is the notion that wearing sunscreen could lead to vitamin D deficiency.
On a scientific level, our skin cells produce vitamin D when they are exposed to UV rays.
The concept of DIY sunscreen is also gaining influence.
Creator Nara Smith, known for making DIY recipes from scratch, recently shared avideocrafting homemade sunscreen.
This can lead to patchy sunburns if some areas are protected more than others.
The instant gratification of a tan now could lead to serious implications down the line.
The good news is, we still have time to get the SPF conversation back on track.
Compared to previous generations, younger generations are more likely to be introduced to sunscreen at an earlier age.
I really hope this trend is a short-lived fad and doesnt undo this advantage.
So how do we get the conversation back on track?
One of the first steps is to check that to vet sources of information carefully.
Dr. Landriscina emphasizes the importance of this.
Dermatologists are the true experts on skin health, and some of our colleagues even misspeak sometimes.
fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and dark spots brought on by UV exposure).
Survey finds young adults more likely to believe myths about sun protection and skin cancer prevention.
New American Academy of Dermatology survey finds one-third of Americans fail basic quiz on skin cancer and sun exposure.
The Skin Cancer Foundation.
