This summer when teens said they were going to go “check the UV,” it’s not in the way we healthcare professionals meant for the UV index to be used. While it sounds like a proactive or protective thing to do, the TikTok-trending phrase means quite the opposite.
In this situation, “checking the UV” does not mean checking to see if the UV is too high to go out in the sun or that sun protection should be used, which is the intended purpose of the UV rating, but it is rather being used as an indication of a good time to go outside to get a “good tan.”
Some teens believe that by ensuring that the UV is at its peak they’ll have a better chance of getting tan if they head outside. This social media trend may be dangerous both physically and mentally. As with many harmful trends these days, social media platforms like TikTok are significantly contributing to the rising popularity of teens “checking the UV.” Tweens and teens share videos of themselves checking the weather app on their phones to find the UV for the day. They check during the school day too, in case they can run outside during a free period.
“Teens are in a critical period of development, and social media plays a huge role in shaping their beauty standards,” explains Emily Guarnotta, PsyD, a psychologist with Phoenix Health. “Beauty content that promotes narrow standards, like tan skin, can lead teens to connect their own self-worth to how closely they match these ideals. On top of it, algorithms promote this type of content, which keeps teens stuck in a pattern of comparing.”
Teens, and younger, often use social media as their guide, as we know. Advice on social media frequently does not take into account how safe or healthy something is. Information does not have to be fact-checked, and anyone can post almost anything and come off as an expert.
Teens may believe they’re looking at the UV index in hopes of getting a healthy-looking glow, but the result is anything but healthy. UVI measures UV radiation levels in order to inform people about how to protect themselves from the sun based on the ratings, so they do not intentionally expose their bodies to UV rays without proper protection.
The ratings go from 0 to 11+. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), here’s how to properly “check the UV:
- Most people can enjoy the outdoors safely when the UVI is between 0 and 2. It’s a good idea to wear SPF 15+ if you burn easily (and note that the UV rays reflect off the snow in winter, making SPF a year-round necessity).
- Take practical steps for moderate (3-5) to high (6-7). Sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and broad-spectrum SPF 30+ are a few ways to keep yourself safe in the sun.
- Avoid very high UV (8-10) and extreme UV (11 and above). Shirts, wide-brimmed hats, sunscreen, and shade are musts if you need to be outside.
As dermatologists, we are naturally concerned with the increased risks of skin cancer, particularly melanoma, one of the deadliest cancers. This may not resonated with the younger population, though. Parents, other family members, and friends can try to talk about this by reminding the young that repeated sun exposure and damage can also lead to premature collagen damage and premature aging causing wrinkles and spots. Yet, wrinkles may also seem foreign and far off to a person who hasn’t even hit their 20s yet.
Psychologists also worry that there are other effects than just physical that these trends can lead to. Trends like “checking the UV” perpetuate harmful narratives around beauty that young kids are especially susceptible to. It can reinforce the notion that beauty if more important than health. Short-term rewards become more important than long-term risks.
Please help to educate teens and tweens about the harms of such trends! And please help role model, your actions can help with the right (or wrong) message. Help teens embrace their future self. We teach that tanned skin is technically damaged skin, and that is not a notion discussed enough, but the earlier we start, the better.