Tanning is getting hot again. Here’s what it really does to your skin - NBC News
NBC News reports on the resurgence of tanning bed use among young people, driven by social media trends. Medical experts warn that these devices significantly increase the risk of melanoma due to high UV exposure.
Why it matters
The trend highlights a growing public health concern as social media influence potentially reverses decades of progress in skin cancer awareness.
Nichole Sims started using a tanning bed at 15 because she said everyone around her was doing it, especially before events like homecoming dances and prom. Eight years later, she was diagnosed with melanoma — a potentially life-threatening skin cancer. During that time, Sims has seen tanning become even more popular among young people online. She tries to counter the misinformation on social media that touts tanning as a mood booster and beauty requirement by sharing her own experience. “I just feel like our generation doesn’t really look into a lot of risks. They just kind of live in the moment,” Sims said. Experts are concerned about a resurgence in the popularity of tanning among young adults as social media has helped tanning in general make a comeback.
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