Courting cancer? Israelis increasingly use viral UV index hack to get ‘instant tan’

A viral social media trend in Israel encourages people to use the UV index as a guide for getting a tan, despite health warnings. The article reports that on a recent afternoon, the UV index reached 11+ across Israel, prompting the Israel Meteorological Service to urge avoiding direct sun exposure. Teenagers and young adults, like 16-year-old Abigail Wolf, deliberately go out when the index is 10 or 11 to tan faster. Dr. Efrat Bar-Ilan, senior pediatric dermatologist at Clalit Health Services, warns of long-term risks including skin cancer. The article notes that Israel ranks 23rd among 30 countries with the highest melanoma rates but has the lowest mortality rate. About 91% of skin cancer cases in Israel are caught early. Health Ministry data from 2022 shows a decrease in invasive melanoma rates, with 2023 data indicating a stable trend.

A viral social media trend in Israel encourages people to use the UV index as a guide for getting a tan, despite health warnings. The article reports that on a recent afternoon, the UV index reached 11+ across Israel, prompting the Israel Meteorological Service to urge avoiding direct sun exposure. Teenagers and young adults, like 16-year-old Abigail Wolf, deliberately go out when the index is 10 or 11 to tan faster. Dr. Efrat Bar-Ilan, senior pediatric dermatologist at Clalit Health Services, warns of long-term risks including skin cancer. The article notes that Israel ranks 23rd among 30 countries with the highest melanoma rates but has the lowest mortality rate. About 91% of skin cancer cases in Israel are caught early. Health Ministry data from 2022 shows a decrease in invasive melanoma rates, with 2023 data indicating a stable trend.

Courting cancer? Israelis increasingly use viral UV index hack to get ‘instant tan’