This cross-sectional study used 2024 National Health Interview Survey data (n=31,615 US adults ≥18 years) to estimate the prevalence of intentional outdoor tanning and sunburn, and identify associated demographic and behavioral factors by sex.
30.2% of US adults reported intentional outdoor tanning (35.6% women, 26.6% men). Prevalence was highest among women aged 18–29 (48.1%), non-Hispanic White women (41.3%), and women reporting heavy/binge drinking (47.2%). Adults who intentionally tanned had nearly twice the sunburn prevalence (49.9%) vs. those who did not (28.3%).
Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference. Self-reported tanning and sunburn data are subject to recall and social desirability bias. The survey captures a single time point and cannot reflect trends over time.
Nearly 1 in 3 US adults intentionally tans outdoors, with young women and heavy drinkers at highest risk — consider screening for tanning behavior alongside alcohol use counseling. Clinicians should counsel patients that intentional outdoor tanning roughly doubles sunburn risk, a modifiable skin cancer risk factor.
