Sunburn art is not safe, docs say
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The tag #sunburnart has popped up on social media and while it’s not widespread enough to qualify as a trend, it has gained enough attention that the Skin Care Foundation released a statement on Thursday, Time.com reported.
Sunburn art occurs when an individual uses a strategically placed pattern to create a sunburn.
The Skin Care Foundation’s senior vice president, Dr. Deborah S. Sarnoff, released the following statement:
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“The Skin Cancer Foundation strongly advises the public to avoid sunburns at all costs. A sunburn is not only painful – it’s dangerous, and comes with consequences. Sunburns cause DNA damage to the skin, accelerate skin aging, and increase your lifetime skin cancer risk. In fact, sustaining five or more sunburns in youth increases lifetime melanoma risk by 80 percent. On average, a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns.”
The statement continued with a recommendation of sun protection including seeking shade, covering up with clothing, wearing a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses, in addition to daily sunscreen use.
Whether a sunburn is “artistic” or not, it raises your risk of skin cancer, experts told Time.com. While dermatologists said they had not seen sunburn art in person, they noted that those who intentionally burn themselves are less likely to seek skincare appointments.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“I’d encourage people to wear their sunscreen,” Dr. Melissa Piliang, a dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic, told Time.com. “Cover up, seek the shade, and really be safe in the sun over the Fourth of July weekend.”