“Beer Tanning”. why you can’t succumb to the “beer tan” trend;

“Buy the cheapest beer. Dive into the water. Take a beer shower. Enjoy the sun.” Here’s the recipe for a “perfect tan,” according to a TikTok user’s video that has racked up thousands of “views” on the social network. Going viral, the crazy stunt was replicated by other netizens who filmed themselves spraying themselves with alcohol before lazing on the beach in the hope of getting a golden tan.

“There is no scientific evidence on this subject,” declares entry doctor Marie Jourdan, dermatologist and member of the French Society of Dermatology (SFD). So where does the so-called tinted effect that these idle followers have noticed come from? Just the color of the liquid that would temporarily color the skin. “Hops, the plant from which beer is made and which gives it this amber color, can give the impression of a very artificially caramelized skin,” the doctor continues, before clarifying that the technique, in addition to being unhygienic, is obviously passé. . Indeed, after rinsing with water, the paint disappears immediately.

Inefficient technique

“It doesn’t activate the tan at all, speed it up, or make it even more even. It is absolutely not the same mechanism,” continues the expert. And let’s remind that “tanning is a mechanism that comes from inside the skin. It is the stimulation of pigment cells that will produce melanin from the bottom of the skin and which will gradually spread to its surface. And not vice versa.”

Beer tan also has nothing to do with self-talk. “This cosmetic product contains molecules that produce a chemical tint when in contact with the skin. The composition of beer does not fall into this category,” the expert adds.

Dangerous consequences

In addition to the fact that this method is ineffective in achieving tanned skin, it is also harmful to health. “First, because people who reproduce this method don’t use sunscreen,” warns Dr. Jourdan. “Beer also contains alcohol, which thins the surface of the skin, making it almost invisible to UV rays, so the effects are more damaging. So it’s not a better tanning technique, it’s a better burning technique.”

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Far from being an exception, the “beer tan” method is not the first of its kind to make noise on social networks. More and more unorthodox “tricks” for tanning appear on the Internet, such as recipes based on lemon juice or Coca-Cola, much to the surprise of dermatologists. If these platforms can really “strengthen” the visibility of the phenomenon, Dr. Marie Jourdan reminds, however, that “since the 1970s, there have always been many methods of tanning, even without social networks. Some put olive oil or buttermilk on their skin, while others lay on aluminum sheets to focus the rays…However, there was no Tiktok at that time.” The real problem, according to the expert, is “the promotion of the solarium, period. We are still under the umbrella of a society that highly values ​​tanning. Most people think that a tan is a sign of good health, but it is quite the opposite.

Suffering skin

A sunburn is a sign of skin distress

Marie Jourdan, MD, Dermatologist, SFD Member

Indeed, the dermatologist reminds that, contrary to popular beliefs and beauty guidelines, sunburn is not a sign of healthy skin. “Actually, tanning is a protective mechanism of the skin. When it is damaged and exposed to molecular damage caused by UV rays, it triggers a tan, i.e. an increase in the production of pigment cells. It is a sign of skin suffering,” he claims.

It is worth remembering that 85% of skin cancer cases in France are due to “overexposure to UV rays”, according to a report by Public Health France(1), and that this figure is constantly increasing. The invalidity of this beer-based tanning method might seem absurd at first glance, however, the National Public Health Agency notes that false beliefs about sun exposure still circulate and that advice from sun prevention campaigns is not always followed (2).

(1) Source: Public Health France .
(2) Source: Santé Publique France. Sun risks and cancer French habits and knowledge decoded