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Soo Park, MD
Soo Park, MD
Posted: Wednesday, June 1, 2022
According to a recent American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults, tanning increased significantly from 2020 to 2021, from 54% to 63%. This came along with an increase in sunburns as well, from 25% to 33%. The AAD encourages the public to practice safe sun, of course, but what exactly does that mean? It seems many Americans don’t know the answer, as the same survey revealed that many respondents continue to believe a variety of myths and misconceptions about tanning, a number of which can lead to skin damage and an increased risk of premature aging and skin cancer.
According to the survey, 45% of respondents believed one or more of the following myths:
However, board-certified dermatologist Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, MD, FAAD, commented on the prevailing notion about tanned skin looking healthy: “A tan is your body’s response to injury,” she said. “When you tan, you are intentionally putting your health at risk.”
Of the respondents who reported having been sunburned, 28% reported that their sunburn was severe enough to make their clothes uncomfortable. The most common sites of sunburn were the face, arms, shoulders, and neck. Other misinformed comments from the survey respondents follow: 24% did not know you can get sunburned on a cloudy day, 15% were unaware that you can get sunburned through a car window, 9% did not know that people with dark skin can get a sunburn, and 7% were unaware that sunburns increase the risk of skin cancer.
The AAD recommends that the best ways to practice safe sun are to seek shade, wear sun-protective clothing, and apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 or higher to areas not covered by clothing.
American Academy of Dermatology
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