‘Tanmaxxing’ trend sparks health warning

With temperatures set to increase dramatically over the coming days, more than half of Brits say they are sunburned every year and melanoma skin cancer fatalities which are caused by exposure to sun are expected to rise in the next 10 years by over 200 cases.

However, despite most cases of sun exposure being preventable over 10% of Brits say they don’t wear any sunscreen at all.

Dr Natasha Kapur, Consultant Dermatologist at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital is warning Brits to be cautious of a trend on TikTok labelled ‘tanmaxxing’ which encourages people to maximise their time spent in the sun to increase their natural tan.

Natasha commented on the trend, encouraging people not to spend more time than they should in direct sunlight: “There is no such thing as a 'safe' way of tanning. Over exposure to sun causes permanent damage to the skin, and the only way to avoid this is by sunscreen coverage. This trend also does not take into consideration different skin types. For the entire population, long exposure to sun is not advisable but this is particularly dangerous for pale skinned individuals.” Natasha continues: “Remember that the person making the video may have very different skin to you.”

Natasha has provided her top tips to stay safe ahead of the hot weather and has provided her professional guidance to protecting your skin from powerful UV rays:

Sunscreen does not last all day - one application is not enough

“Many people forget to reapply their suncreen, but maintaining a generous layer throughout the day is essential, especially when spending time outdoors, as sunscreen can begin to wear off after a few hours. If one is in the water the water resistant sunscreens only give 40 minutes of protection before they must be reapplied so it’s even more pivotal for anyone going swimming to reapply.

Set a timer on your phone to ensure you remember when it’s time to top up, otherwise it’s easy to forget. If you’re out with friends or family, consider taking turns putting people on ‘sunscreen duty’ as it’s easy to miss spots if you’re applying sunscreen yourself.”

Limit your sun exposure between 11am and 4pm, the risk is not worth it

“While it may be tempting to spend longer periods of time in the sun, UV levels are at their strongest between 11am and 4pm and it’s much easier to burn during this time. You should not spend longer than 10 minutes in direct sun if you're fair skinned, and no longer than 30 minutes if you're darker skinned.”

Always pick a sunscreen that is SPF 50+ and gives UBA protection

“Using a sunscreen with SPF 50+ helps create a protective barrier between the skin and harmful UV rays. SPF 30 might be ok for those with less delicate skin types, but if you plan on spending long periods of time in the sun I would still always recommend SPF 50+ as most people do not actually apply the recommended amount to give them full coverage from the sun.

When choosing a sunscreen, it is important to look for both UVB and UVA protection. The amount of UVB protection is indicated by the SPF, a high factor helps prevent burning, while UVA protection is indicated with a star rating (4-5 Star being the best) or PPD rating helps protect the skin from premature ageing.”

Pick the right formula for your skin type when applying SPF to your face to ensure it doesn’t irritate your skin

“Daily facial sun protection is just as important as protecting the rest of the body. Those with oilier skin may prefer lighter, oil-based formulas to ensure pores aren’t clogged, while people with drier skin may benefit from more nourishing, cream-based options with hyaluronic acid or ceramides. Many moisturisers now include SPF 30, which can be a convenient way to combine hydration and protection in one step.”

If you have moles pay attention to any changes in their shape, colour or height

“Following the ABCDE guide for mole checks can be helpful, and if anything looks different or concerning, it is important to seek advice from a dermatologist.”

For more information, click here.