A new viral trend starring young tourists vacationing in Mallorca has ignited controversy in social networks. They are videos in which they show the “before and after” of their skin after spending several days in Mallorca intensive sunbathing on the island’s beaches. The comparison, in many cases, evidences drastic tone changes in just one week, with skin going from pale white to a dark tan that even some users find hard to believe is real.
Mixed reactions
Fashion has awakened reactions reactions. On the one hand, those who applaud the aesthetic changeleaving comments such as “I wish I could go back as dark as this” or “They look like someone else”. On the other hand, many critical voices warn of the risk of promoting the tanning culture as a symbol of health or beauty.
Dermatologists insist that there is no such thing as a “healthy tan”. Ana Martín, head of Dermatology at Son Espases University Hospitalrecalled in an interview in this same media that “tanning is a defense mechanism against the aggression of the sun” and warned that “the sun’s rays can damage the skin”to lie in the sun for hours is very badeven if you use sunscreen”. The expert pointed out that “prolonged exposure without adequate protection is the main cause of the increase in skin cancer”.
The problem is not anecdotal. According to data from the Spanish Association Against Cancer, a total of 142 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the Balearic Islands in 2024 melanoma and 303 of other types of skin cancer. The figures, which have increased by 40% in recent years, are considered a direct reflection of sun exposure habits.
In a summer marked by the massive influx of tourists, the virality of these challenges puts back on the table the the need to raise awareness of the risks of the sun and the importance of prioritizing health over appearance.
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