A Healthy Habit? The 'Shortcut' to Cancer...Experts Warn About This Craze Among Youths [The World is Z Gold]

Tanning Content Spreads on Social Media

Tanned Skin Seen as a Sign of Health

Experts Stress the Importance of Sunscreen

Editor's NoteGeneration Z (those born from the late 1990s to the early 2010s) is gaining attention as the generation setting new standards and leading trends and culture in a rapidly changing era. In [The World is Z Gold], we spotlight the lives and values of Generation Z around the globe, examining how they are shaping and changing society.

Recently, a trend called "Tanmaxxing"—excessive tanning—has been rapidly spreading among Generation Z in the United States, raising concerns among experts. This trend, which aims to achieve a darker skin tone, is spreading quickly via social networking services (SNS), and some users are even sharing content that encourages avoiding sunscreen or actively using tanning machines.

"The higher the UV index, the better"…'Tanmaxxing' spreads through SNS

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According to a recent report by Forbes, so-called "Tanfluencers" (tanning influencers) on platforms like TikTok and Instagram are sharing methods for sunbathing for extended periods and tips on how to pick days with a high UV index for tanning. Some even recommend refraining from using sunscreen. They argue that deeply tanned skin makes muscles appear more pronounced, creates a more even skin tone, and enhances one's attractiveness.

This phenomenon stems from the "Tanmaxxing" trend, which pursues a darker skin tone. Tanmaxxing is a new term that has emerged from the broader "maxxing" culture, where people pursue specific goals to the extreme. It is also referred to by various names, such as "UV maxxing," "carrot maxxing," "bronzer maxxing," and "sun maxxing."

In reality, it is easy to find posts on TikTok with the hashtag "#TanTok," where users show off their tanned skin or share their preparations before tanning. One TikTok user even posted a video with the "sun maxxing" hashtag, saying, "You only need a little sun exposure to achieve the desired tanning effect."

Camryn Fisher (21), who lives in Utah, is also positive about the "Tanmaxxing" trend. In an interview with USA Today, she said, "I use self-tanning products in the winter, but I prefer outdoor activities in the summer," adding, "On days with a high UV index, I often spend several hours outside with no protection at all."

Ariel Sinisin (25), who lives in New Jersey, also said that tanning has always felt natural to her. She explained that she has posted related content herself and added, "Culturally, there is an underlying belief that tanned skin is beautiful."

This tanning craze is not unrelated to longstanding Western beauty standards. Unlike in Korea, where lighter skin is often preferred, in Western societies tanned skin is generally seen as a symbol of health. Pale skin tends to evoke the image of someone who spends too much time indoors and does not get enough sunlight, whereas tanned skin conjures up images of someone who can afford vacations and is active outdoors, projecting a healthy and affluent lifestyle.

"Tanning is a sign of skin damage"…Experts express concern over 'Tanmaxxing' craze

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However, experts have voiced concerns about this tanning craze. Despite the fact that tanning causes skin damage, it is being consumed on SNS as if it were a healthy lifestyle habit, which can lead people to overlook the dangers of UV exposure. Ultraviolet rays are a well-known major risk factor for skin cancer. In fact, skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, and according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, it is estimated that one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer before the age of 70.

Dermatologist Dr. Sherene Teymoore also recently expressed concern that tanning-related content on SNS is being consumed in a way similar to videos introducing skincare routines. She said, "Tanning is being packaged as if it were part of a beauty or wellness routine, but in reality, it is just a sign of skin damage. The skin produces more pigment in response as a form of self-protection," she explained. She added, "Generation Z is among the most active generations in acquiring skincare information through SNS, but misinformation is also spreading rapidly online."

In fact, research has shown that the use of tanning machines significantly increases the risk of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. In December last year, a research team at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine published results analyzing the connection between tanning machine use and melanoma incidence.

The researchers compared 2,932 patients who had used tanning machines and 2,925 patients who had not, out of a total of 32,315 patients treated at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Department of Dermatology. The results showed that the melanoma diagnosis rate among those with tanning machine experience was 5.1%, higher than the 2.1% rate among those without such experience.

Professor Pedram Gerami, who led the study, stated, "At the very least, indoor tanning should be illegal for minors," adding, "Most patients began tanning when they were young, and now, as adults, they regret that decision." He continued, "Just as cigarette packs carry warnings about the risk of lung cancer, tanning machines should have similar warnings," and emphasized, "The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ultraviolet radiation from indoor tanning devices as a Group 1 carcinogen, on the same level as smoking and asbestos."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.