TikTok beer tan trend warned against by experts amid risks

With the summer finally here and many looking to get that ‘perfect’ beach body and tan, many are turning online to find easy hacks to achieve this.

However, not all of these ‘life hacks’ are as effective or safe as first might seem.

Many tricks posted to the short form video sharing app may leave you with some serious health concerns.

The ‘beer tanning’ trend is one such trick which could leave those who try it with severe sunburn, heat stroke and even sun poisoning.

(Canva) Beer tanning could cause sunburn, heat stroke, sun poisoning and wasp stings (Image: Canva)

What is beer tanning as popular TikTok life hack warned against?

Beer tanning involves participants pouring beer on their skin in order to enhance their summer tan.

Several videos on TikTok see holiday-goers dousing themselves in alcohol before laying out in the sun in the hopes of achieving a bronzed look.

Online searches for ‘beer tan’ have increased by 137% since March with an expert from SpaSeekers.com warning against this dangerous trend.

(Getty) It is recommended that those who sunbathe use SPF to protect their skin (Image: Getty)

Expert warns against beer tan trend on TikTok that could give you sun poisoning

Jason Goldberg, director at SpaSeekers.com warns: “There is science behind why beer can help us to achieve a perfect tan, with the hops in beer activating melanin – the substance in our bodies which is responsible for making our skin darker. 

“However, if you were to replace using sunscreen for a can of holiday beer, you are leaving yourself vulnerable to the sun’s exposure with no protection. Doing this can leave you at an increased risk of sunburn, heatstroke, or even sun poisoning in severe cases. Not only this but coating your skin in beer will leave you feeling sticky and at increased risk of being stung by insects such as bees and wasps. 

“Instead of beer, we’d always recommend wearing an SPF of at least 30 and applying it between 15 – 20 mins before heading out into the sun for a tanning session. Remember you need to apply enough sun lotion in order to gain the full protection as specified on the sunscreen bottle. 

“For adults using sun cream or lotion, this is the equivalent of a thick line of sunscreen running from the tip of your middle finger down to your wrist, for any given body part. If using spray, ensure you are spraying a minimum of 15 times on each area of the body you are applying to. 

“Save the holiday beers for drinking and remember you can still achieve a great holiday glow, while protecting from the sun’s UV rays at the same time.”