The viral TikTok trend that's racking up millions of views could be ‘harmful' and leave you with ‘burnt & damaged' skin

The Sun

18-07-2025

A DANGEROUS new beauty trend doing the rounds on TikTok is being slammed.
Experts say it could leave fans with scorched skin and lasting damage.
2
The viral "sun tattoo" hack, which has already racked up millions of views on the app, sees users applying suncream in patterns like hearts or lettering before lying out in the sun to get a tan.
The goal is to leave part of the skin lighter, creating what looks like a temporary tattoo.
TikToker @Mayceewhipple garnered over eight million views, showing off her DIY sunscreen tattoos.
But while it might seem like a fun way to level up your holiday tan, experts say it's a burn risk waiting to happen.
Maddie Cridge, in-house spa therapist at SpaSeekers, has warned sun-worshippers against the trend, calling it 'harmful' and 'misleading'.
She explained: 'There's a growing misconception that using sunscreen to create 'tattoos' is a harmless way to personalise your tan.
"In reality, this trend can leave parts of your skin completely unprotected – leading to sunburn, irritation and long-term damage.'
Unlike fake tans or bronzers, suncream isn't made to be used like body paint.
And applying it in small sections while deliberately leaving the rest of your skin exposed means you're essentially baking in the sun without proper protection.
Experts are urging Brits to stick to SPF the right way.
They recommend applying it evenly across the body, and topping it up every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating.
I used tanning nasal sprays twice but they've left me with permanent skin damage, they made me feel dizzy & nauseous too - says former Miss GB
Experts at the NHS have also warned that sunburns could lead to skin cancer.
And while the trend might seem like harmless fun on holiday, Maddie says there are safer ways to have a bit of tan-related fun, like using wash-off bronzers or stick-on tattoos.
She added: 'Instead of playing with trends like this, make daily SPF a non-negotiable.
"With around 1 in 7 Brits admitting they never apply sunscreen, we need to stop seeing SPF as something just for summer holidays.'
So if you're heading to the beach, the garden or even just a rooftop pub, ditch the viral hacks, and slather on the sunscreen properly. Your skin will thank you later.
SpaSeekers is urging anyone seeing the trend on their feed to give it a miss and to spread the word before more people end up red, sore and sorry.
It's not the first TikTok tanning hack to stir up a fuss.
Earlier this year, a rise in a dangerous summer TikTok 'wellness' trend reportedly put Gen Z girls at risk of cancer or even death.
Influencers on the platform had claimed tanning beds can do everything from boost vitamin D levels to improve your mental health.
Not only were many of these claims unproven, some were entirely false, and charities were concerned that marketing tanning as a 'wellness' trend was driving Gen Z girls and women to sunbeds – risking their health, and even death, from skin cancer.