Nearly one-third of Americans think a tan makes people look better and healthier, according to a new survey out of the Orlando Health Cancer Institute.
“There is no such thing as a healthy tan, as it’s really just a visual manifestation of damage to the skin,” says Rajesh Nair, MD, an oncology surgeon at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, in a news release. “But we’re fighting against a perceived positive image and health benefits of something that actually has a totally opposite reality, which is that suntanned skin represents an increased risk of a deadly disease.”
The survey, conducted by Ipsos, also found that young adults are likely to believe myths and misinformation on sun protection that may lead them away from proven methods of skin cancer prevention. About 14% of adults under 35 think daily sunscreen use is more harmful to the skin than direct sun exposure, and 23% believe drinking water and staying hydrated prevents a sunburn.
Dr. Nair says, with so many sources of information—and misinformation—these days, it’s difficult to decipher good advice from the bad.
“We have really hectic and busy lives, and we’re trying to find information to guide us on healthy choices and decision-making to the best of our ability. But the overwhelming number of people and organizations claiming to have the right answers makes it really hard to know what to believe,” Nair says. “Our fear is that people buy into a lot of really dangerous ideas that put them at added risk.”
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Ipsos on the KnowledgePanel from March 22 to March 24, 2024, and surveyed 1,021 U.S. adults ages 18 and older.
