Smartphone applications that promote “safe” tanning routines for users, including children as young as four, are raising alarms among health professionals in Australia. Influencers are heavily endorsing these apps, contributing to a worrying revival of tanning culture among teenagers. With slogans such as “Get your best tan safely” and “Get a healthy glow faster,” these apps have gained significant traction, including one that ranks among the top downloaded free apps in the “weather” category of the Apple app store.
Many of these applications allow users to select their desired skin tone, such as “espresso glow” or “golden bronze.” They then choose tanning intensity levels ranging from “mild” to “intense” for “faster, deeper tanning.” Some apps even suggest combining tanning routines with body oils, tanning butters, and accelerants, while recommending post-sun activities like swimming or showering. Users are guided on how long to sunbathe and when, based on their chosen skin tone.
Dr. Deshan Sebaratnam, a dermatologist and conjoint associate professor at the University of New South Wales, condemned these apps, stating, “It’s all nonsense.” He explained that the idea of a “safe tan” from ultraviolet (UV) exposure is fundamentally flawed. “A tan is actually a distress signal from your skin,” he noted, emphasizing that it indicates damage from UV radiation. “There is no such thing as a safe tan. The only safe tan is a fake tan.”
Dr. Sebaratnam added that any change in skin color signifies damage, regardless of the speed of exposure. He expressed particular concern about the targeting of young users, as UV damage sustained early in life significantly increases the risk of developing skin cancer later on. “When you acquire enough mutations, that’s what causes cancer,” he explained.
While melanoma is rare in children, Dr. Sebaratnam revealed he has treated young patients requiring surgery and lymph node removal due to skin cancer. He cautioned that the use of tanning accelerants or oils, as recommended by some apps, is a “terrible idea,” as these products may contain ingredients that heighten photosensitivity and raise the risk of severe burns.
Emma Glassenbury, head of the Cancer Council Victoria’s SunSmart program, reported that parents have expressed concerns about their children returning to tanning trends, asking about UV levels and when it is “safe” to tan. “That’s deeply concerning,” she stated.
A poll conducted by the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne in December revealed that 23% of teens aged 12 to 17 incorrectly believe that a tan protects against skin cancer, while half would prefer to look tanned. Approximately 2,000 Australians die from skin cancer each year, underscoring the gravity of the public health issue.
Glassenbury emphasized the need to raise awareness about the dangers posed by these apps. “We’re urging all Australians not to buy into these dangerous tanning apps because they’re just simply too risky, particularly targeting our young people. By promoting tanning trends, they are really undermining our public health efforts in tackling skin cancer.” SunSmart has dedicated decades to shifting Australian attitudes away from a tanning mentality, which is now threatened by the resurgence of these apps.
