Mom Who Battled Skin Cancer 3 Times Blasts Viral ‘Tanmaxxing’ TikTok Trend
Liz Benditt says the trend promotes deliberate UV exposure, as thousands of TikTok videos have fueled its rapid spread.
- Dermatologists have raised alarms regarding "tanmaxxing," a social media trend encouraging users to achieve the deepest tan possible through excessive UV exposure. The term, coined this spring, riffs on "looksmaxxing" and promotes avoiding high SPF sunscreens.
- Dr. Silvina Pugliese, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Health, warns that repeated ultraviolet exposure accelerates premature aging and cellular damage. She explains that such habits significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer, the most common cancer in the United States.
- Liz, a skin cancer survivor, warns others to learn from her past mistakes after battling the disease. While sunbathing in 2009 at age 37, she discovered a mole on her leg that led to multiple skin cancer diagnoses over the following years.
- The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher 15 minutes before sun exposure, reapplying every two hours. Experts also encourage seeking shade and limiting time outside during peak daylight hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Skin cancer remains one of the most preventable cancers, with most cases avoidable through consistent skin protection. As the trend grows on platforms like TikTok, dermatologists emphasize that prioritizing long-term health over immediate cosmetic results is essential to avoiding permanent cellular damage.
47 Articles
47 Articles
Viral 'tanmaxxing' trend and the risks it poses to children
(KTAL/KMSS) — A viral trend is gaining popularity despite health experts warning of severe long-term risks. "Tanmaxxing" is a controversial trend that encourages extreme tanning, including staying in the sun longer, applying tanning accelerators, using tanning beds, and forgoing sunscreen to tan as dark as possible. Some practitioners go so far as to monitor weather [...]
Woman had skin cancer taken out her legs twice and nose once. Now she has warning for 'tanmaxxers': 'Learn from my dumb mistakes'
Liz Benditt is sharing her personal history with skin cancer to warn those participating in the modern trend known as tanmaxxing. At 54 years old, she has already faced three separate skin cancer diagnoses, including two procedures on her leg and one on her nose. She is now speaking out because she sees a direct connection between the behavior of younger generations today and the habits she adopted decades ago. The trend of tanmaxxing involves c…
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