Gen Z is notoriously invested in their skincare. We’re talking about a generation of young people raised on 10-step TikTok skincare routines, filling their holiday wish lists with lip masks and Drunk Elephant products, slathering on anti-aging products at the ripe age of 16. And sure, we tease them about it as millennials and Gen Xers, but you also have to admire the dedication to healthy skin.
And then this summer’s latest beauty trend started making its way across TikTok. It turns out, tan is in again (was it ever out?) and Gen Z is taking it to a new level. Their strategy? Track the UV index and go out when when it’s at its peak. Effective — yes. Potentially harmful — unfortunately, also yes.
What is the TikTok UV index tanning trend?
All over TikTok, “teens and young women recommend following the UV index and going outside to tan when the UV is in the higher ranges,” Dr. Kseniya Kobets, MD, Director of Cosmetic Dermatology at Montefiore-Einstein Advanced Care, tells SheKnows.
A quick skim of TikTok reveals videos of young women sharing their secrets to getting the perfect bikini tanline, debating the proper index to tan at, or even complaining when they skipped tanning on what was forecast to be a low UV day (4) only to see the sun come out bright and the UV come in at an 8. “It was such a missed opportunity!” that TikToker laments.
So what is the UV index?
The UV index is a scale that measures “the intensity and potential damage of ultraviolet (UV) rays on a given day,” Dr. Kobets explains. The index runs from 0 to 11+; the higher the number, the greater risk of skin damage. Anything 8 and above is defined as “Extra protection needed,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency. “Be careful outside, especially during late morning through mid-afternoon,” the EPA cautions, noting that if you’re outside, you should be in protective clothing, minimum SPF-15 sunscreen, and a wide-brimmed hat.
Of course, this tanning trend has teens, tweens, and young adults doing just the opposite. “I don’t even take the time to go outside when it’s 5 or lower,” one young woman said on TikTok. “The best UV index to go outside is obviously 11.”
Is the UV index tanning trend harmful?
“It’s well established that intense UV exposure, especially enough to cause sunburn, increases the risk of skin cancer,” says Dr. Kobets. UV radiation, she explains, “damages skin cells at a molecular level, even if there is no visible sunburn.” That means that “repeated or intense exposure” to high UV levels “can cause cumulative DNA damage, which increases cancer risk and leads to premature aging.”
For reference, Dr. Kobets notes, getting just one bad sunburn with blisters before you’re 18 can increase your lifetime risk of melanoma by about 50 percent. And even without visible redness and burns, “UV rays from both the sun and tanning beds cause DNA damage in skin cells,” she explains. “This not only raises the risk of skin cancer but also accelerates signs of aging like wrinkles, skin sagging, hyperpigmentation, and sunspots.”
Altogether, Dr. Kobets calls the UV index tanning trend “extremely concerning.” Seeking out high UV exposure for the sake of getting tan “ignores long-term risks in favor of short-term appearance changes,” she explains. It’s a trend she’s seen not just on the internet but in her own practice as well. “Young patients are often drawn to the instant gratification of a tan and may not fully appreciate the long-term consequences,” she notes. “Gen Z is very invested in skincare and wellness, yet also vulnerable to viral trends that may lack scientific backing.”
Part of the problem? Despite what we know about the harms of tanning, Western culture still associates a bronzed glow with “healthy-looking skin.” Every new generation needs to be educated about the long-term harms of high-UV sun exposure. Even Gen Z, who are more in-the-know about skincare than any of us, could use a reminder.
What can parents do?
To that end, your teens and tweens might need a summer skincare refresher. Per Dr. Kobets, that means going back to the basics of sun protection:
Staying in the shade when you can, especially between 10 am and 4 pm.
Using broad-spectrum SPF 30-50 and reapplying at least every two hours (more frequently when you’re swimming or sweating).
Wearing UPF-protective clothing so the sun doesn’t penetrate your clothes. Wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses are also a good idea.
Opting for mineral-based sunscreens for sensitive, eczema-prone, or easily-irritated skin. This includes sunscreens with active ingredients of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Using self-tanners instead. Dr. Kobets recommends using a self-tanner with DHA or botanical based, DHA-free self-tanners, both of which are “safer alternative[s] to UV tanning.”
As for how to relay these tips to your tanning-obsessed teens, well, it starts with “honest, age-appropriate conversations,” Dr. Kobets says. “Emphasize that skin cancer is not just a distant risk, it can mean scars from surgical excisions, chronic skin changes, and even loss of life in cases like melanoma.” She also recommends highlighting how expensive it can get to reverse sun damage with cosmetic treatments.
Of course, you’ll also want to listen to your own advice. “Model sun-safe behavior yourself,” Dr. Kobets says. “Teens are more likely to listen when they see you applying sunscreen and taking care of your own skin.”
Before you go, shop our favorite skincare brands for teens:
