After decades of steadily diminished sun exposure and skin cancer risk, tanning is making a comeback. In 2024, 67% of adults said they got tanned or darker skin, up from 54% in 2020, and half of Gen Z and Millennial adults surveyed said they got a sunburn, a well-established risk factor for skin cancer.
This shift appears to be driven, in part, by scientific ignorance. According to the survey by the American Academy of Dermatology, more than a third of Gen Zers weren’t familiar with the risks of tanning and more than half believed common tanning myths, such as the idea that a “base tan” can protect the skin.
“Misinformation online has contributed to a resurgence in tanning culture among young people,” says dermatologist Deborah Sarnoff, MD, president of the Skin Cancer Foundation. “We have seen ‘burn line’ and ‘tan-maxxing’ trends that have gained popularity among TikTok users who are tracking the UV index to get a dark tan or create sunburn lines on their skin during peak intensity,” she says.
This is the exact opposite of the UV index’s intended use.
What is the UV index?
Developed in 1992, the ultraviolet (UV) index was designed to help people limit sun exposure when UV radiation is strongest. The index measures the intensity of ultraviolet radiation from the sun at any given place and time — based on the season and time of day, cloud cover, your altitude, and the ozone concentration (which partially blocks UV light).
The index runs from 0 (no sun) to 11+ (strongest sun).
- 0-2: Low risk
- 3-7: Moderate to high risk, where skin protection is needed
- 8+ is in the danger zone where you can burn in 5-10 minutes if you’re not wearing sunscreen
Importantly, UV light can damage skin even in the absence of visible burning. “Even on lower ends of the UV spectrum, unprotected sun exposure causes photodamage to the skin,” Sarnoff says. “And this photodamage is what leads to 90% of skin cancers.”
How harmful is the UV index trend?
It’s not breaking news that tanning accelerates skin aging and increases the risk of skin cancers, yet awareness of these facts is warning — and so is concern.
So let’s review what UV light does to the skin.
Ultraviolet light causes both direct and indirect damage to the DNA of skin cells, leading to mutations and preventing cell repair. Repeated exposure leads to cumulative damage and accelerated signs of aging, including premature wrinkles, skin sagging, hyperpigmentation, and sunspots, while also increasing the risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.
Use the UV index the way it was intended.
The UV index is meant as a warning system, not a tanning guide.
Generally, the UV index is at its highest between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The sun is safest when the index is below 3, which tends to be in the early morning, before 9 a.m., and then in the late afternoon and evening, after 4 p.m. In the winter, because of the way the earth tilts away from the sun, UV index levels are generally below 3 in the northern half of the United States.
Still, the American Academy of Dermatology and the Skin Care Foundation recommend wearing sunscreen or protective clothing whenever skin is exposed outdoors, regardless of the UV index. “Even if the UV index is low, you should take precautions to protect your skin from photodamage,” Sarnoff says. “And if the UV index is high, it may be better to avoid going outside or to significantly limit exposure.”
