Warning over extremely dangerous tanning trend this summer
While the weather has been a bit hit and miss in the UK so far, it's clear it's absolutely sweltering in some places abroad.
And while I'm sure many of us are buzzing to sip on a cocktail by the pool, have a swim in the sea and gorge on as much tapas as you can physically handle - there's one thing we're all beyond keen on ticking off our holiday bucket lists.
Yep, getting a tan.
What is a 'beer tan'?
Now, every year it feels like there's some new trend or fad in the quest for people to look their best selves in the sunshine and this year, it seems like getting a 'beer tan' is it.
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As you can probably guess from the name, this one involves pouring beer over yourself before going out and getting a tan because apparently it's a cheap way to tan faster.
The trend took off over on TikTok with plenty showing off the effects of their beer tan, though thankfully, the platform won't let you smell that they probably stink like a brewery.
What are the the dangers of a 'beer tan'?
Health experts have weighed in on the trend to issue a warning over the safety of it all - and they aren't exactly giving it the thumbs up.
While they say there is evidence to back up beer bringing some benefits to getting that bronzed beach bod, with the hops in beer activating melanin which is what gives your skin the tan, the dangers are plentiful.
Beer doesn't protect you from the punishing rays of the sun's light, so you'll need to slap on plenty of sunscreen to avoid turning yourself into a lobster.
The importance of SPF
According to Metro, too many are ignoring the need for sunscreen and are instead just dousing themselves with beer.
This leaves them vulnerable to an increased risk of 'sunburn, heatstroke or even sun poisoning' which can lead to skin being covered in blisters, uncomfortable swelling and peeling off in some places.
In the long run, leaving your skin dangerously exposed during sunbathing can lead to premature ageing as your body is baked in the radiation, while such behaviours also lead to a higher risk of skin cancer.
Kathryn Clifford, co-founder of skin cancer awareness charity Skcin, told The Sun: "I can barely believe this insanity exists.
"This is an extremely dangerous so-called ‘trend’ with potentially very serious consequences.
"Sun damage is cumulative, irreparable and the direct cause of 90 percent of the UK’s most common cancer.
"Tan-seekers of all kinds are at serious risk of developing all types of skin cancer and burning of the skin is strongly linked to the development of melanoma - the most serious life-threatening form of the disease.
"Furthermore, skin cancer is disproportionately high in young adults and one of the biggest killing cancers in the 15 to 34 age group - the same age group that uses this social platform more than any other."
What's the alternative?
There's plenty of tanning products which will have basically the same effect without you emptying your cans all over yourself, you're much better quaffing the contents (in moderation) as originally intended.
On top of that, coating your skin in a sticky layer of beer will also attract some unwanted attention in the form of mother nature's answer to the question: "What's the meanest b**tard we can create?"
Insects will take a particular interest in beer-coated skin and that involves stinging insects like wasps who are just awful little monsters.
So there you have it, if you don't want to put your skin in danger of further damage and get stung by wasps then make sure to avoid giving yourself a beer tan.
As for all that extra beer, share it with your friends.
Topics: Beauty, Food and Drink, Health, TikTok, Advice, Skincare, Holiday, Weather, Summer, Life
Rhiannon Ingle