While sunburns can be painful, they can also be deadly. Which is why health experts are concerned with the growing popularity of a new social media trend called sunburn art.
In order to create sunburn art, participants carefully apply sunscreen or stencils to their bodies while they bask in the sun, effectively burning images into their bodies. But while the trend might be entertaining to some, it has sparked concern amongst experts and resulted in the Skin Cancer Foundation having issued an official position on the dangerous art.
The foundation warns that sunburns not only “cause DNA damage to the skin, accelerate skin aging, and increase your lifetime skin cancer risk,” they also increase your lifetime melanoma risk by 80 percent after a mere five sunburns.
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 percent. On average, a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns.
So next time you’re thinking about stepping outside into the sun without the appropriate sun protection regimen, don’t. Instead, follow the Skin Cancer Foundation’s advice and cover up with clothing, seek shade, apply sunscreen daily, wear a broad-brimmed hat and dawn ultraviolet (UV) blocking sunglasses.
Dr. Deborah Sarnoff, senior vice president of the foundation, was quoted by Philly.com in a report as having said that while there are those who might “think this is creative or a new art form,” the reality is that “sunburns are terribly dangerous” and there’s “really no such thing as a healthy tan.”
People may think this is creative or a new art form, but the fact remains that sunburns are terribly dangerous, and I don’t think the average person on the street understands that to this day (…) There’s really no such thing as a healthy tan. Tanned skin is damaged skin.
Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is reportedly on the rise, according to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What are your thoughts on sunburn art?
