Experts from the NHS have issued a warning about a “dangerous” TikTok trend that could increase cancer risks. The Queen Victoria Hospital Foundation Trust in East Grinstead has advised against a practice known as “sunburning.” This trend, promoted by social media influencers, involves avoiding sunscreen to achieve a “healthy boost” for the skin or intentionally burning it to treat acne.
Sam Orkar, clinical director of the hospital’s plastics and burns services, emphasized the immediate and long-term health risks associated with such trends. He urged people to protect their skin with sunscreen and seek safer alternatives for treating skin conditions.
Although the hospital has not yet encountered cases linked to this trend, it cautions that the effects could become apparent in the future. The hospital sees around 700 skin cancer patients annually from Sussex, Surrey, and Kent, with the number rising each year.
Melanoma, the fifth most common cancer in the UK, is projected to see a record 20,800 new cases this year, up from the average of 19,300 cases between 2020 and 2022, according to Cancer Research UK.
TikTok has been contacted for a response. The NHS highlights that repeated sunburn increases the risk of developing skin cancer and contributes to premature aging.
