The latest Gen Zer beauty trend poses a huge cancer risk
The tanning trend from the 2000s has become popular again among Generation Z.
The comeback of the Jersey Shore “gym, tan, laundry” style also poses a major cancer risk for the young people who have developed an affinity for it.
According to research from IbisWorld, there are now 6,000 more tanning salons in the United States than there were in the late 2000s. By 2023, there will be a total of 22,000 tanning salons nationwide.
Heather Rogers, MD, a Seattle dermatologist, has Women’s health: ‘[Gen Zers are] “They don’t take care of their skin, despite following a 15-step skin care regimen.”
Despite the many studies showing the negative effects of sunbathing, Generation Z chooses to ignore science in order to achieve their personal beauty ideals.
The 2000s tanning bed trend is back in fashion for Gen Z (stock image)
According to the Advanced Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center: ‘Sunbeds can increase the risk of skin cancer, damage and deplete your immune system, cause clinical eye problems, lead to photodamage (damage to the skin from unprotected exposure to UV radiation) and accelerated photoaging, or premature aging of the skin from repeated exposure to UV radiation.’
Despite the large amount of information already available, more and more tanning salons are opening due to the growing trend among Generation Z.
Co-owner Win Gruber has opened three tanning salons since 2023, called Upper East Side Tan.
Win estimates that 30 to 40 percent of his clients are between the ages of 22 and 26, and 90 percent of them are women. They often pay a monthly fee of $59.
He told Women’s Health: ‘I know the generation above them had a backlash against tanning beds, and I think it’s a bit of a reverse now.’
Despite all the warnings about the long term, 28 percent of Gen Z respondents have a survey for the American Academy of Dermatology In 2022, they found getting a tan more important than the risk of skin cancer that comes with it.
Dr. Rogers, who removes skin cancers such as moles, bumps or sores, shared with Women’s Health: ‘The data from the study was quite disturbing because of how much room there is for improvement in educating Gen Z about the risks of [ultraviolet light]. That gap does not seem to have been closed yet.’
The comeback of the Jersey Shore ‘gym, tan, wash’ aesthetic also poses a major cancer risk for the youth who have developed an affinity for it (stock image)
Jacqueline Watchmaker, a dermatologist at US Dermatology Partners, explains: “There is a wave of misinformation affecting younger teens and Gen Z.
“I’ve definitely seen twenty-year-olds who were not only brown, but reddish brown. They’re so brown I call it mahogany.”
Unlike the 2000s, when a tanning session took 25 minutes or more, today, thanks to technology, you can get a tan in just four minutes. The improved tanning beds emit stronger and more dangerous rays.