The allure of a sun-kissed glow has led many down a perilous path known as beer tanning, the latest sensation sweeping TikTok. In this risky trend, beauty influencers are seen drenching themselves in beer while basking in the sun, claiming it accelerates tanning. However, the medical community is sounding the alarm, warning that beer tanning can heighten the risks of heat exhaustion, sunburn, and even cancer!
Unveiling the Beer Tanning Trend BeerTanning
Amidst the vast landscape of beauty fads on TikTok and Instagram, beer tanning has surged to the forefront. The trending hashtag #beertan boasts over 300,000 views, with countless viewers expressing curiosity about trying this novel approach.
However, beauty experts vehemently denounce beer tanning as a dangerous notion. The concept rests on the premise that the hops in beer stimulate melanin production, thereby enhancing skin pigmentation. Yet, dermatologists around the globe warn that this claim lacks any scientific foundation.
A Recipe for Disaster
This TikTok trend, which hasn’t received the endorsement of certified skincare experts, is disastrous as it promotes using beer as a replacement for sunscreen. It’s widely established that UV rays can wreak havoc on the skin, leading to severe damage, including skin cancer. Substituting sunscreen with a potentially acidic liquid left to sizzle on your skin under the sun is a direct invitation to increased sun damage. Even if you apply beer atop sunscreen, it’s evident that the sunscreen’s efficacy will be compromised.
The Dark Side of Tanning
The act of employing beer as a tanning lotion considerably elevates the risk of sun damage. According to Cancer Research UK, even a single sunburn every two years triples your chances of developing melanoma skin cancer, compared to never experiencing sunburn.
Identifying sunburn, they note, is not limited to raw, peeling, or blistering skin. Sunburn manifests as pink or red skin, even for individuals with darker skin tones, leading to irritation, tenderness, or itchiness.
Beer-laden sunbathing can also heighten the risk of heat exhaustion, as the additional heat from the boiling liquid compounds the sun’s effects. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include dizziness, headaches, confusion, loss of appetite, feverish sensations, excessive sweating, dehydration, cramps in the stomach, arms, and legs, rapid breathing, and an accelerated pulse rate.
Moreover, dermatologists underscore that tanning, in any form, is unsafe. A tan is essentially a visible sign of damaged skin DNA, significantly increasing the likelihood of developing skin cancer. Even if you manage to evade skin cancer, tanning through beer, sunbeds, or sun exposure can expedite skin aging. The damage inflicted by UV rays breaks down collagen in your skin, vital for maintaining elasticity and vitality. Photoaging, characterized by rough-textured skin adorned with brown blotches, red bumps, and wrinkles, is a telltale sign of skin aging due to sun damage.
Parting Thoughts
In the realm of online beauty content, there exists a stark division concerning beer tanning. The crucial takeaway is this: beer tanning was promoted by uncertified beauty enthusiasts, while licensed dermatologists have vehemently condemned this TikTok hack as incredibly perilous for both your skin and overall well-being. For those seeking a radiant complexion, experts recommend opting for safe self-tanning lotions that offer skincare benefits. Always remember that sunscreen is your skin’s staunchest ally, shielding you from premature aging and the specter of chronic diseases like skin cancer.
