The Deadly New Trend of Sunburn Art Poses Serious Risk

As summer continues to heat up, people are flocking to our state’s pristine beaches. But young people are taking part in a dangerous, new trend. Referred to as “sunburn art” – and also known as “tan tattoos” – people use sunscreen or temporary tattoos to create designs on the skin, then leaving the areas surrounding the “art” unprotected from the sun’s rays, purposely getting burned for the sake of body art. But experts are cringing at the practice, declaring that it causes skin cancer, especially melanoma.

Social media has provided a large platform for the harmful trend and people are flooding the internet with pictures of themselves, burned with temporary designs. But the effects of the trend are anything but temporary. Sunburn comes with serious, life-threatening consequences. Red or tanned skin signifies damaged skin. Risks of sunburn include:

· Increased risk of skin cancer and melanoma

· DNA damage to the skin

· Acceleration of skin aging

· Pain to the individual

Skin damage is often irreversible and sustaining five or more sunburns in youth increases your lifetime melanoma risk by 80 percent. In addition to avoiding sunburn art, it’s important to:

· Always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply sunscreen to your entire face and body approximately 30 minutes to going outside, so that it can be absorbed by the skin and less likely to absorb when you perspire, and reapply every few hours and after swimming or strenuous exercise.

· Seek shade and cover up with clothing

· Sporting a broad-brimmed hat and UV blocking sunglasses

· Perform self-skin exams to evaluate your existing moles and lesions, looking for suspicious changes, and to monitor for new lesions. Follow the ABCDE rule to help you identify that you may need to see your physician.

· The most important part of your skincare regimen is that you enroll in a screening program that conducts full skin exams and detects melanoma at the earliest possible stages. MoleSafe’s proprietary program combines advanced melanoma screening, detailed diagnostic reports and annual follow-up, which makes its process of early detection superior to any others. Patients who enroll in MoleSafe’s program will receive peace of mind knowing that their skin is healthy, because MoleSafe’s world-wide experts are among the most established and trusted physicians in the field.

If you do suffer a burn from too much sun exposure, be sure to apply aloe or moisturizing cream to ease the discomfort and hydrate your skin. Time in the sun should be limited or completely avoided following a burn in order to prevent any further damage.

For more information, visit www.molesafe.com/Millburn or call 1-877-326-6518. If you live, work or own a business in Millburn, you will receive 20 percent off your initial screening. Mention the “Millburn Appreciation Program” to receive 20 percent off your first visit.