Social media is an amazing source of endless cat GIFs, hilarious memes, and more selfies than we know what to do with, but it can also be a scary place when it comes to certain trends. It seems that now, more than ever, when a few people become obsessed with a beauty fad, it suddenly spreads like wildfire through the world of hashtags. We’ve seen it happen with the#KylieJennerLipChallenge and the#BellyButtonChallenge — both of which can have dangerous implications. Now, the disturbing #SunburnArt trend is rising, and it is not pretty.
People have taken to Instagram to flaunt their tantattoos. Yes, you read that right. They’re creating designs all over their bodies by applying sunscreen in deliberate patterns and letting the rest of their skin sizzle and burn. We’ve seen some crazy artwork— flowers, zig zags, even the Mona Lisa. “In order to really appreciate the ‘art,’ there needs to be greater contrast between the person’s natural skin tone versus the tan skin, so the darker the tan, the more obvious the design,” says Dr. Rachel Nazarian of Schweiger Dermatology Group. “By tanning, your skin is attempting to protect itself and its DNA from cancer-causing radiation. The darker the tan, the stronger the shield your body is trying to produce, and the greater your chance of developing skin cancer from radiation,” she adds. This is a problem. So much so that The Skin Cancer Foundation has released a statement urging everyone against doing such a risky activity.
And don’t think that because you’re covering part of your body, you’re reducing your risk. “Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate by race or body location,” says Dr. Sajel Shah of Smarter Skin Dermatology. “This isn’t art. It’s organized destruction of your skin, and it’s irresponsible. There’s nothing pretty about inducing skin cancer,” adds Dr. Nazarian.
Although this isn’t a totally brand new thing — we’ve all had those friends who frequent tanning beds and decorate their bodies with stickers in order to flaunt their post-bed color — the fact that this is now spreading on social media and being celebrated is where it gets tricky. “Things that shouldn’t be trends become trends when social media is involved,” says Dr. Shah. “Remember, five or more sunburns in your youth increases your lifetime risk of melanoma by 80%. “Even if you’re not afraid of that, think about how much this is also accelerating skin aging,” she adds.
If you feel the need for some body art this summer and love the look of the tan tattoos, Dr. Shah recommends hitting up your nearest spray tanning salon, or using self-tanner. Flash tattoos are another risk-free way to get a similar effect. “Instant results, without the risk,” says Dr. Shah. Sounds like a no-brainer.