Rethinking Tan Maxing: How Clinicians Can Talk to Patients About UV Risk

Social media trends centered on health, wellness, and appearance can quickly influence patient behavior, even when the practices behind them lack strong scientific support. One example is "tan maxing," a trend encouraging individuals to intentionally increase tanning to achieve a desired appearance.

In a recent Dermatology Times interview, Vishal A. Patel, MD, FAAD, FACMS, associate professor of dermatology at George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences and director of the Cutaneous Oncology Program at the GW Cancer Center, discussed why clinicians should pay attention to the trend and how they can communicate its risks to patients.

A Tan as a Sign of UV Damage

Although tanning may be viewed as a cosmetic goal, Patel emphasized the biological process occurring beneath the visible change in skin tone. UV radiation damages cellular DNA, with tanning developing as the skin responds to that exposure.

"A tan is a visible sign of DNA damage, and so if you're maxing that appearance, well, you're maxing your DNA damage from a UV radiation source," Patel said.

Repeated exposure also raises concerns beyond an individual sunburn or lesion. Over time, cumulative UV exposure can contribute to broader areas of photodamage and field cancerization, increasing long-term concerns surrounding skin cancer.

Changing the Conversation Around Tanning

For clinicians, simply telling patients to avoid the sun may not be the most effective way to address tanning behaviors. Patel instead emphasized reframing the conversation around the patient's desired outcome and the risks associated with the method being used to achieve it.

"We're not trying to create vampires who hide from the sun. We just want to be smart about our relationship with UV radiation," Patel said.

The goal, he explained, is not complete avoidance of sunlight but a more balanced approach to UV exposure and long-term skin health.

Watch the full interview above as Patel discusses the biology behind tanning, cumulative UV damage, and strategies clinicians can use when speaking with patients about potentially harmful tanning habits.