Apparently, a heightened risk of developing melanoma isn’t enough to deter some people from creating intricate body art.
“Tan tattoos,” or “sunburn art” are the latest trend to make us question today’s youth. As the summer weather hits in full force, the trend is picking up traction on social media, with people intentionally burning their skin with the sun’s rays to satisfy that fix for some temporary body art. The “art” is created via sunscreen or stencils.
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They then tag the pictures with #sunburnart #tantattoo #suntattoo.
Sounds pretty smart, right?
So smart in fact, that it didn’t take too long for the Skin Cancer Foundation to take notice of it and to issue a warning:
“The Skin Cancer Foundation strongly advises the public to avoid sunburns at all costs. A sunburn is not only painful – it’s dangerous, and comes with consequences. Sunburns cause DNA damage to the skin, accelerate skin aging, and increase your lifetime skin cancer risk. In fact, sustaining five or more sunburns in youth increases lifetime melanoma risk by 80 per cent. On average, a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends adopting a complete sun protection regimen that includes seeking shade, covering up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV blocking sunglasses, in addition to daily sunscreen use.”
Of course, the practice is nothing entirely new – your parents probably rocked some sun tattoos back in the day. But aided by social media – and despite all the mass knowledge of the impact of the sun’s harmful rays – the whole thing has gained a bit too much popularity in young people.
And if your younger sibling, or niece and nephew has hopped on board the whole sunburn art trend, you should probably talk some sense into them.
If you’re heading poolside, to the golf course, or tennis courts, keep in mind that the Canadian Dermatology Association recommends people use a sunblock with an SPF 30 or higher.
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