Here’s a shocking truth: the very apps promising a ‘safe’ tan might be putting your health—and your children’s—at serious risk. In a world where skin cancer claims thousands of lives annually, these apps are peddling a dangerous myth that could undo decades of public health progress. But here’s where it gets controversial: smartphone apps marketed as tools for achieving a ‘healthy glow’ are being pushed by influencers and downloaded by users as young as four, reigniting a troubling tanning trend among Australian teens.
With catchy slogans like ‘Get your best tan safely’ and ‘Achieve a healthy glow faster,’ these apps—some topping the Apple App Store’s ‘weather’ category—entice users by letting them choose their desired skin tone, from ‘espresso glow’ to ‘golden bronze.’ Users then select tanning intensity levels like ‘mild,’ ‘medium,’ or ‘intense,’ and are even encouraged to incorporate body oils, tanning butters, and accelerants into their routines. And this is the part most people miss: these apps create personalized plans based on deliberate exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, guiding users on exactly when and how long to bask in the sun.
One sponsored ad for such an app features a young, tanned woman with the caption: ‘Didn’t check UV. Didn’t reapply. Didn’t even think about it.’ It’s a message that normalizes reckless behavior, but the reality is far from glamorous. Dr. Deshan Sebaratnam, a dermatologist and associate professor at the University of New South Wales, calls it ‘all nonsense.’ ‘A tan is a distress signal from your skin,’ he explains. ‘It means your skin cells have been damaged by UV radiation and are producing melanin in response. There’s no such thing as a safe tan—the only safe tan is a fake tan.’
Apps that claim gradual tanning is safer or that there’s a ‘safe’ threshold of UV exposure are flat-out misleading, Sebaratnam warns. Any change in skin color, no matter how subtle, indicates damage. What’s worse? These apps often target young people, whose early UV exposure carries a higher lifetime risk of skin cancer. ‘UV damage gets into your DNA, causing mutations that linger even after your skin heals,’ Sebaratnam says. ‘When you accumulate enough mutations, that’s what leads to cancer.’
While melanoma in children is rare, Sebaratnam has treated young patients requiring surgery and lymph node removal—a stark reminder of the stakes. He also warns against using tanning accelerants or oils, which can increase photosensitivity and lead to severe burns. Is it worth risking your health for a temporary glow?
Emma Glassenbury, head of the Cancer Council Victoria’s SunSmart program, sounds the alarm: ‘Parents are telling us their kids are obsessed with tan lines again, asking when it’s ‘safe’ to tan. It’s deeply concerning.’ A recent poll by The Royal Children’s Hospital found that 23% of teens aged 12–17 falsely believe a tan protects against skin cancer, while half prefer a tanned look. With 2,000 Australians dying from skin cancer annually, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
‘These apps are undermining our fight against skin cancer,’ Glassenbury says. ‘They’re targeting young people with dangerous misinformation, reversing the progress we’ve made in shifting Australia’s tanning culture.’ SunSmart has spent decades educating Australians about sun safety, but these apps threaten to undo that work.
So, here’s the question: Are we willing to let a trendy app dictate our health choices? Let’s start a conversation. Do you think these apps should be regulated, or is it up to individuals to know better? Share your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate we can’t afford to ignore.
