Recently, dangerous trends have emerged in Tiktok - some of which have even claimed the lives of young people around the world. One encourages young people to be exposed to the sun without protection on the grounds that sunscreens are carcinogenic, and the other encourages checking the level of the radiation index and when the number is high, the young people know it's time to go to the beach.
The world of social networks contains a wide variety of trends, some are innocent and some may pose a real danger. Recently, a number of alarming trends have emerged on Tiktok, many of which have caused severe physical and emotional distress, and some have even resulted in death, especially among young people.
Among the many trends, a trend emerged led by a number of Tiktok influencers who call themselves 'the movement on Tiktok that goes against the use of sunscreens. The influencers allegedly claim that the sunscreens contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to health in general and the skin in particular, and that using sunscreens may even cause vitamin D deficiency. Thus, they actually encourage their followers to be exposed to the sun without any protection. It is important to understand that one of the sure carcinogens is UVB ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Therefore, it is important to use sun protection factors when exposed to the sun and in no way to be exposed to the sun without any protection. Sunscreen does not cause skin cancer.
In fact, it is recommended by doctors as a means of protection against skin cancer including melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. The active ingredients in sunscreens such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone and others, were created to block or absorb ultraviolet radiation which is a major risk factor for skin cancer.
@captain_taylor_morgan Replying to @trumankohler ✝️ ♬ Peaceful Sincerity - Pemancing Biru
However, concerns have been raised about certain chemical ingredients in specific sunscreens that may have harmful effects. Ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate have been studied for their potential endocrine-disrupting effects (the endocrine system, which is actually a collection of endocrine glands that produce and secrete hormones into the bloodstream), but there is no conclusive evidence linking these chemicals to cancer in humans. Regulatory bodies, including the FDA, continue to monitor and evaluate the safety of the protective ingredients. It is true that there may be a decrease in the production of vitamin D in the skin, since UVB radiation is necessary for the synthesis of vitamin D in the skin, but the inherent risk is significantly smaller than the risk of skin cancer.
Also, the extent to which sunscreen use affects vitamin D levels is still a subject of research. For people concerned about vitamin D deficiency in the skin, it is recommended to maintain a balanced diet that includes foods rich in vitamin D, such as fatty fish, fortified dairy products and egg yolks. If necessary, consider using a vitamin D supplement.
@thereallazyhamburger I love love love tanning AHHH #tips #advice #talkwithme #tanning #sun #uvindex #nature ♬ original sound - ✮Fifi Margot™
If the movement led by the influencers who oppose the use of sunscreens was not enough for you, there is another and no less worrying trend that is also starring in social networks these days and is called #UVIndex# or in other words - the radiation index. As part of the trend, young people check the level of the radiation index every day and as soon as the radiation index is high enough, they decide that this is the day to go to the beach and sunbathe. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what started the trend that is already spreading like wildfire.
#UVIndex# has about 60 million views on TikTok. A search for the trend results yields a wide variety of content, from people giving their tips for optimal results, such as which radiation index is good for tanning, to recommendations for the types of tanning oils to use. It is important to know that the higher the radiation index, the more UV radiation there is, which is an increased risk of burns and especially skin cancer in the future. If you go out in the sun, you should only go out during the safe hours and not between 10:00-16:00, look for shade, wear long protective clothing, a hat, sunglasses, sun protection factor and of course drink plenty of water. If you're still wondering how long it's really recommended to be exposed to the sun, well it's hard to say, it depends on skin tone, family or personal history of skin cancer. In general, the recommendation is about 20 minutes during safe hours, and of course be smart in the sun.
Dr. Ron Yaniv is an expert in dermatology and aesthetics and is in charge of the field of dermatology at Meuhedet.