Nearly one-third of Americans intentionally tan outdoors, half of whom report sunburn

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Nearly one-third of Americans intentionally tan outdoors, according to data from a National Health Interview Survey published in JAMA Dermatology.

Of those who reported experiencing sunburn in the 2024 survey, 49.9% intentionally tanned outdoors vs. 28.3% who did not — a nearly twofold difference, according to Dawn M. Holman, MPH, behavioral scientist in the division of cancer prevention and control at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

“Intentional outdoor tanning is a deliberate but preventable way that people increase their exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the leading cause of most skin cancers,” Holman told Healio. “Every time a person tans intentionally outdoors, they risk UV damage to the skin, sunburn and, ultimately, skin cancer.”

For the study, researchers identified the most common demographics and behaviors associated with intentional outdoor tanning. Of 31,615 adults (mean age, 48.3 years; women, 51.4%) surveyed, 30.2% reported intentionally tanning outdoors, with a prevalence rate of 35.6% for women and 26.6% for men.