1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men engage in intentional outdoor tanning

28 Jul 2026, 00:40 · Medical Xpress

by Lori Solomon

edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

Sadie Harley

Scientific Editor

Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process

Andrew Zinin

Chief Editor

Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process Editors' notes

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

peer-reviewed publication

reputable news agency

proofread

The GIST Add as preferred source

Nearly one-third of women and one-quarter of men engage in intentional outdoor tanning, with variation observed by age, race, physical activity level and alcohol use, according to a study published in JAMA Dermatology.

Dawn M. Holman, M.P.H., from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues examined the prevalence of intentional outdoor tanning among U.S. adults. The analysis included 31,615 adults participating in the 2024 National Health Interview Survey.

The researchers found that the unadjusted prevalence of intentional outdoor tanning was 30.2% among women and 26.6% among men. Overall, the prevalence of intentional outdoor tanning was associated with age, race and ethnicity, sun sensitivity, physical activity and alcohol use.

The highest prevalence among women was seen in those aged 18–29 (48.1%), who were non-Hispanic White (41.3%), were not sun-sensitive (38.3%), met both aerobic and strength guidelines (39.5%), or engaged in heavy or binge drinking (47.2%). Similarly, among men, prevalence was highest among those aged 18–29 (29.9%), who were non-Hispanic White (30.5%), were sun-sensitive (28.7%), met both aerobic and strength guidelines (32.2%), or engaged in heavy or binge drinking (31.2%).

Prevalence among women was also higher among those with some college education (37.5%) and a healthy weight (38.7%). However, among men, higher prevalence was seen in those who were married or partnered (25.8%).

"These findings support the need to address intentional outdoor tanning in the context of skin cancer prevention," the authors write. "The variation in demographic and behavioral factors points to venues for future research and interventions."

Publication details

Dawn M. Holman et al, Prevalence and Associated Factors of Intentional Outdoor Tanning Among US Adults, JAMA Dermatology (2026). DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2026.2450

Journal information: JAMA Dermatology

Clinical categories

DermatologyCommon illnesses & PreventionPreventive medicineHealthy living Who's behind this story?

Sadie Harley

BSc Life Sciences & Ecology. Microbiology lab background with pharmaceutical news experience in oil, gas, and renewable industries. Full profile →

Andrew Zinin

Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →

Citation: 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men engage in intentional outdoor tanning (2026, July 27) retrieved 27 July 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-women-men-engage-intentional-outdoor.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.