By: Carla Ximena Torres-Zegarra, MD, FAAD, FAAP
If your teen wants a tan for summer, special events like prom or homecoming, vacation photos or because of something they saw on social media, you may have questions about whether tanning is safe.
Many teens are exposed to online beauty trends that promote a darker skin tone. Some social media communities encourage tanning through tanning beds, excessive sun exposure, spray tans or even unapproved products such as nasal tanning sprays. While a tan may be popular in some circles, it is important to know that a tan is actually a sign of skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Here's what parents need to know about tanning trends and how to help teens make healthy choices for their skin.
Why are teens interested in tanning?
Many young people see tanning as a way to improve their appearance or fit in with beauty trends on social media.
"Tanmaxxing" & other social media trends
Online movements such as "tanmaxxing" encourage users to seek a darker skin tone, often without discussing the health risks.
This can be a good opportunity to talk with your teen about body image and unrealistic beauty standards on social media:
Remind your teen that healthy skin comes in many natural tones, and that online trends do not always reflect what is safe or healthy.
Encourage them to appreciate their natural skin tone and focus on positive habits rather than appearance-based trends. This can help foster a healthier relationship with their bodies.
Are tanning beds dangerous?
Yes. While sunlight can be damaging to the skin, artificial sunlight in tanning salons can be particularly risky. UV radiation from tanning salons increases a person's risk of developing skin cancer, including melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.
UV radiation from tanning beds and sunlamps is considered a known carcinogen, meaning it can cause cancer. In fact, it is classified in the same category as cigarettes and asbestos. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, approximately 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime. Using indoor tanning beds before age 35 increases the risk of melanoma—the most serious type of skin cancer—by about 59%. The more often a person uses tanning beds, the higher their risk becomes.
Where the AAP stands on tanning beds
Because of these health risks, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports laws that ban the use of tanning beds and other artificial tanning devices for anyone younger than 18. But despite strong recommendations from pediatric and dermatology organizations, regulations regarding indoor tanning vary by state.
What about sunless tanners?
One alternative to tanning beds is the use of sunless tanners, more commonly known as spray tans. Sunless tanners use dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a chemical that reacts with amino acids in the outermost layer of skin to create a temporary darker appearance. DHA-containing self-tanning products may be applied in tanning booths or at home using lotions, foams, sprays or tanning mitts. Bronzers are water-soluble dyes that temporarily stain the skin and are easily removed with soap and water.
Spray tans are generally considered safer than tanning beds because they do not expose the skin to UV radiation. However, they do not improve skin health and should not be viewed as a substitute for sun protection. And if your teen uses spray tans, they should avoid inhaling the spray and protect the eyes, lips and mucous membranes during application.
Do spray tans protect against sunburn?
No. Because neither DHA nor the pigments it creates provide meaningful UV protection, teens should continue to use sunscreen and other sun-safe practices when outdoors.
Also remember that any sunscreen added into a sunless tanning product only provides protection during the first application and must be reapplied according to product instructions.
Can beef tallow or natural oils replace sunscreen?
In one of the most dangerous trends circulating on social media, some influencers are promoting beef tallow and other natural oils as alternatives to sunscreen. They claim that these provide enough protection from harmful UV rays. However, research shows that animal-derived fats like beef tallow provide essentially no meaningful UV protection.
In addition, a 2026 study testing plant oils marketed as "natural sunscreens" (raspberry seed oil, coconut oil, shea butter, etc.) found they showed "negligible" SPF values.
Bottom line: these products cannot replace broad-spectrum sunscreen; a sunscreen rated at 30 SPF or higher blocks more than 97% of UVB rays.
What are nasal tanning sprays?
Another tanning method gaining popularity on social media involves nasal tanning sprays. These products contain hormone-like chemicals designed in a lab to boost melanin production so users can tan faster and develop a darker skin tone.
Nasal tanning sprays often require UV exposure to achieve the desired tanning effect. As a result, users still expose their skin to harmful radiation. This may encourage teens and young adults to spend even more time in the sun without adequate sun protection.
Are nasal tanning sprays safe?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve these products, and their safety profile remains largely unknown. Because the ingredients and concentrations may vary widely, there is no guarantee that the contents match what is listed on the label. Reported side effects include acne, nausea, gastrointestinal symptoms, facial flushing, decreased appetite and spontaneous erections.
Remember
Although tanning bed use has declined over the past decade, social media trends and concerns about appearance continue to drive interest in tanning. Experimental and unregulated tanning methods may carry unknown long-term health risks. The safest tan is no tan.
Instead of tanning indoors or outdoors, encourage teens to embrace their natural skin tone and focus on healthy skin habits. Daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen, seeking shade, wearing sun-protective clothing and avoiding indoor tanning can significantly reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging. If your teen wants a tanned look, sunless tanning products are safer than UV exposure. But don’t forget that they do not protect the skin from the sun and should not replace sunscreen.
More information
About Dr. Torres-Zegarra
Carla Ximena Torres-Zegarra, M.D., FAAD, FAAP, is a triple board-certified pediatrician, dermatologist and pediatric dermatologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Associate Professor of Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Her clinical practice focuses on multidisciplinary care of adolescents and young adults with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), vascular anomalies and complex pediatric skin disorders, as well as procedural dermatology, including laser and surgical treatments. She is passionate about patient education, health equity and innovative models of care that bridge dermatology, pediatrics, endocrinology and other specialties. Dr. Torres-Zegarra is also the host and creator of Pediatras en Línea, the first Spanish-language pediatric podcast produced by Children's Hospital Colorado, reaching audiences in more than 123 countries. Follow her on Instagram: @dra.carlatorresz.