by Some social media influencers are advising beachgoers to avoid using sunscreen to “cure” acne, but doctors warn the consequences could be devastating.
ADVERTISINGHealth experts are warning of a dangerous social media trend that encourages people not to use sunscreen.
A growing number of videos on the popular social media platform TikTok suggest that sunburn can improve health or evenhelp get rid of acne.
Doctors at the Queen Victoria Hospital in the UK immediately condemned the viral trend and said it could increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
“Although adequate sunlight has health benefits, you should still use sunscreen to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer,” it said in a statement.
“The more often you get sunburned over the course of your life, the greater your risk of developing skin cancer and premature aging of your skin.”
“The implications of this development could be far-reaching,” they said.
The hospital treats around 700 patients for sunburn each year, adding that “the number is increasing year by year.”
Doctors fear that the effects of this trend could last for years, meaning that “TikTok followers could well develop skin cancer in the years to come.”
According to Sam Orkar, clinical director at Queen Victoria’s Plastics and Burns Services, melanoma is the fifth most common cancer and the number of cases in the UK is rising.
“There are safer ways to treat acne than exposing yourself to the dangers of unprotected sun exposure,” he said.
What is melanoma and what are the most common symptoms?
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other organs. Ultraviolet light – which comes from the sun’s rays but is also used in tanning beds – is the most common cause.
The risk is higher in people with fair skin or many moles, as well as in people whose families have a history of skin cancer.
Moles are the best indicator for detecting possible melanoma development.
The most common symptoms are moles with irregular shapes or edges or even with a mixture of two or more colors.
Moles are also usually small, while melanomas tend to be larger, often more than 6 mm wide. A mole that changes size, shape, or color can also be a melanoma. According to the British National Health Service.
ADVERTISINGDoctors recommend having moles examined at least once a year.
Which EU countries have the highest melanoma rates?
The International Agency for Research on Cancer estimated thatover 1.5 cases of skin cancer the world in 2022.
Denmark has the highest estimated incidence of melanoma in the EU countries (number of cases per 100,000 people), with a higher incidence rate in northern European countries.
- Denmark 50.3
- Netherlands 48.0
- Sweden 42.4
- Finland 35.7
- Germany 34.8
- Slovakia 33.6
- Ireland 33.9
- Belgium 29.2
- Luxembourg 24.8
- France 24.7
The EU average is 22.8.
ADVERTISINGTikTok dermatologists put pressure on misinformation about sunburn
The rise in misinformation about sunburn has prompted some dermatologists to debunk the myths themselves on TikTok.
Dermatologist Katie Belzenay said in her own video posted on the social media platform that while “tanning despite acne may have potential short-term benefits,” such as less oily skin and better concealing acne marks, the “risks of UV exposure outweigh any potential benefits.”
And the risks aren’t just related to melanoma – prolonged and intense sun exposure can also lead to hyperpigmentation (a condition in which some areas of the skin are darker than others) and erythema (redness of the skin), and can worsen acne scars, she says.
