Tanmaxxing, a new social media trend, pushes users to maximize sun exposure and intensify their tans.
Gen Z participants combine long periods in direct sunlight with tanning products such as oils, bronzers, and gels to create dramatic sun‑tanned looks.
Creators showcase bold tan lines and elaborate outdoor setups, often forgoing sunscreen or supplementing with tanning bed use.
While outdoor time can lift mood, support vitamin D production, and reduce screen time, experts caution that excessive UV exposure is hazardous.
Board‑certified dermatologist Dr. Michael Tassavor, MD, stresses that “there is no such thing as a safe, natural tan.”
He warns that a tan signals visible skin distress and DNA damage, calling it a “glow‑up” that is actually a warning sign.
Dr. Tassavor notes he has treated thousands of skin cancers in patients who engaged in tanmaxxing before the trend was named, many of whom later regretted it.
UV radiation and tanning beds are classified as Group 1 carcinogens, the same category as tobacco and asbestos.
Using a tanning bed before age 35 can raise melanoma risk by about 75%, the dermatologist points out, and the damage accumulates quietly, becoming apparent only years later.
Common myths behind tanmaxxing are false: skipping sunscreen does not produce a “better” tan, and a base tan offers no protection against future sunburns.
Sunlight is not the enemy, but chasing it is unnecessary; most vitamin D can be obtained from diet and supplements.
Dr. Tassavor emphasizes that diligent sunscreen use does not harm bone health, and adequate vitamin D supports bone density and mood.
To protect skin, he recommends applying SPF 30 sunscreen and reapplying every two hours, while advising that tanning beds be avoided entirely.
There is no safe dose of UV exposure, and tanning beds accelerate skin aging, making them an unnecessary risk.
