Members of Gen Z may be known for their elaborate skincare routines, often highlighted online, but a good chunk of them are apparently stepping into tanning beds anyway. The New York Times reports on young "tanfluencers" and TikTok users who post from tanning beds, track UV indexes to time sunbathing, and share tips on "tanmaxxing"—even as dermatologists continue to warn that indoor tanning is in the same cancer-risk category as asbestos and plutonium, and that early use can sharply raise melanoma risk.
The Times cites a recent American Academy of Dermatology survey showing that only a quarter of 18- to 29-year-olds say they're worried about getting skin cancer, compared with nearly 40% in the general population. Meanwhile, 20% say a tan matters more than prevention, while only 14% from the entire population believe that. Misinformation appears to be fueling this behavior: Many Gen Z respondents cited TikTok and Instagram as their main skincare sources and were more likely to believe myths like "sunscreen causes cancer" or "base tans protect you."
"There is no such thing as a safe tan," Murad Alam, president of the American Academy of Dermatology, tells USA Today. "Every time you tan or burn, you are damaging the DNA in your skin." Dermatologists and therapists interviewed by the Times say that online normalization, distrust of medicine, and a dim view of the future, which can affect how seriously individuals take possible long-term repercussions, are all in the mix. More here. (Allure also takes a deep dive into this sun-worshipping generational phenomenon.)
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