• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Experts issue warning over 'dangerous' TikTok trend linked to increasing cancer-risk

Home> Social Media

Published 11:10 14 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Experts issue warning over 'dangerous' TikTok trend linked to increasing cancer-risk

The NHS has issued a public warning

Rebekah Jordan

Rebekah Jordan

Featured Image Credit: NurPhoto / Contributor / Andrew Fox / Getty
Health
Science
Social Media
TikTok

Advert

Advert

Advert

TikTok is a lot of people's go-to for general life tips, new recipes or just good memes.

But sometimes online trends can go too far - as horror stories in the news have shown - especially when they involve bodily harm or hazardous substances.

Now, a new 'dangerous' trend has emerged on TikTok that has health experts worried.

NHS experts at The Queen Victoria Hospital Foundation Trust, in East Grinstead, have warned the public that the new 'sunburning' trend could increase the chances of developing cancer.

Advert

Promoted by social media influencers, the reckless trend involves avoiding sunscreen when going outside in the sun.

NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty
NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty

Content creators are trying to convince people that doing so will give their skin a 'healthy boost' or 'burn off' acne.

Now, it's basic common sense not to go outside in the sun without protection. But it's young and impressionable people who are most at risk.

Advert

'Trends such as this not only pose an immediate danger but have the potential to cause lifelong health issues,' said Sam Orkar, clinical director of the hospital’s plastics and burns services.

TikTok has responded by removing several videos related to this trend for violating its community guidelines.

'This is yet another TikTok trend that is incredibly dangerous and misleading,' warned Dr. Claire Merrifield, GP and medical director at Selph.

'It is completely false that exposing acne to sunlight 'burns' spots away. UV rays directly damage the DNA in skin cells, which can lead to mutations that cause skin cancer.'

Advert

Nick Page/Unsplash
Nick Page/Unsplash

She stresses that 'if you expose the skin without protecting it with SPF, then you automatically increase the risk of skin cancer. Not to mention premature skin ageing.'

Although the hospital hasn’t seen cases linked to this specific trend yet, they're concerned about the potential influx of cases to come.

A similar trend occurred a few years back where influencers would intentionally draw out images in suntan lotion on their skin. And then give themselves a sunburn as a way to test out tattoo designs.

Advert

Dermatologists were quick to raise the flag on this trend and point out its risks.

According to the health authority, repeated sunburns over time increase the risk of developing skin cancer and can lead to premature ageing.

Skin cancer, or melanoma, is the 5th most common type of cancer in the UK.

Cancer Research UK predicts there will be a record 20,800 new melanoma cases this year alone - up from the average of 19,300 between 2020-2022.

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
10 hours ago
11 hours ago
13 hours ago
  • 5./15 WEST/Getty5./15 WEST/Getty
    9 hours ago

    Texas teen hospitalized with severe burns after viral TikTok trend goes wrong

    The brothers tried to recreate a TikTok experiment

    Social Media
  • Chip Somodevilla / Staff via GettyChip Somodevilla / Staff via Getty
    10 hours ago

    Bizarre reason people think pizza has confirmed President Trump's medical status

    Things apparently reached 'DEFCON 1'

    Social Media
  • TikTok / lochie__jonesTikTok / lochie__jones
    11 hours ago

    Australian YouTuber slammed after disturbing video shows him 'stealing from graves'

    He has continued mocking the situation on TikTok and Instagram

    Social Media
  • Ivan Pantic via GettyIvan Pantic via Getty
    13 hours ago

    YouTuber reveals insane amount of money he makes from posting daily videos of 'AI slop'

    Where there's clicks, there's cash

    Social Media
  • Texas teen hospitalized with severe burns after viral TikTok trend goes wrong
  • Dangerous 'Chromebook Challenge' TikTok trend sends warning signs across schools nationwide
  • TikTok users disgusted as woman claims she 'ate her own rib' in viral clip
  • The White House officially launches TikTok account following Trump's vow to ban app