Taking Back the Orlando UV Index
March 31, 2026
“Expose the Truth and Not Your Skin”
While misinformation and disinformation are both examples of fake news, the main difference between the two is their intent to mislead or deceive. But amid today’s twenty-four-seven news cycle, either can quickly spread across dozens of cyber media sources like podcasts. In fact, this has already created a growing concern over how fast false information can spread nowadays. Moreover, most of the people who have been impacted may not even know whether what they have heard is true or not.
“This year the Skin Cancer Foundation is using the month of March to help reclaim the UV Index by addressing misinformation about skin cancer as well as the dangers of disinformation that's floating around the internet that the UV Index isn’t that useful for protecting your skin’s health,” says Michael Steppie, Orlando Mohs surgeon and director of Associates in Dermatology. “For your skin to tan, it involves using your body's natural UV defense to produce melanin and protect your skin, but it cannot protect your skin like a sunscreen or sunblock can. A tan, for the most part, is a red flag that your skin cells have already been injured by ultraviolet light. But the good news is, you can protect your skin and still enjoy being outdoors."
The truth is, anyone can get skin cancer and at any age. And, regardless of skin tone, nobody is immune from the dangers posed by any source of ultraviolet radiation. Most importantly, a summer tan is not an indicator of good skin health; rather it is a visual sign of skin damage. A tan can only occur when the body is forced to produce additional melanin to protect against further injury from sunlight or tanning bed rays. Since UV radiation damages DNA in skin cells, it is a contributor to premature aging and raises one’s cancer risks.
What’s a safe level of UV exposure for a healthy tan?
Simply stated, tanned skin indicates that you have already received damage to your skin’s unique genetic code and the effects are irreversible. That’s because ultraviolet radiation causes oxidative stress that breaks down collagen, reduces elasticity and leads to premature wrinkling. Since any tan increases your risk of skin cancer, there is no safe level of UV exposure from natural sunlight or tanning devices. The only safe alternative comes from using self-tanning products or spray tans with natural ingredients.
“Skin cancer prevention starts with awareness. The UV Index is a simple and powerful tool that the public can use to understand this invisible threat that is the cause of 90% of skin cancers.”
Debrorah S. Sarnoff, MD
President
FDA-approved sunless tanners, such as lotions, mousses and sprays, are among the safest tanning options because they can provide that “golden look” without exposing your skin to harmful ultraviolet radiation. The most popular products today tend to use a sugar-based color additive that temporarily darkens the outermost layer of dead skin cells via external application. But, with that said, self-tanners do not provide proper SPF protection nor can they properly shield against the damage that can be done by exposure to UV light.
Tanning normalization and misleading alternatives...
Tanning normalization is not healthy and purposefully ignoring the science is a dangerous trend that’s often used by people who are promoting natural oils like beef tallow as an effective replacement for sunscreens, despite the fact that they have negligible SPF protection and no UVA protection. So, both myths and intentional disinformation can be harmful, or even deadly. For example, suggesting that - sun damage is only dangerous if you burn - is not true, but the real danger is the false sense of security that false claims create. Unfortunately, across the world wide web, algorithms of poorly regulated platforms may actually amplify sensationalism, anti-sunscreen claims, and undermine scientific facts based on innumerable clinical trials. Once again, tanning normalization is particularly dangerous because it targets younger adults, which happens to now be a group where melanoma incidences are on the rise. It's your skin and you're going to need it.
Dangers of Misinformation and Disinformation
As you might expect, disinformation about not using the UV index or taking proper sun protection outside may indeed be fun to follow on social media site; but actively promoting unsafe behaviors with little to no evidence of the truth is dangerous. However, with the higher rates of melanoma, and increased signs of premature aging among young adults today, many research centers, universities, and skin cancer organizations have stepped up as well to debunk myths and remind people how to safely enjoy time outdoors without increasing their risk of skin cancer.
Although there will always be a lot of misinformation out there, the one thing that the science knows for sure is that skin damage from the sun’s rays is the number one cause of the most serious type of skin cancer, which is melanoma. Currently, statistics project melanoma cases in the United States to reach a new high in 2026 with an estimated 112,000 cases of the invasive disease to be diagnosed. That’s over a 10% increase in new cases compared to 2025. But, contrary to some online sources, advancements in treatments have indeed reduced mortality rates and are projected to continue to do so.
The key drivers of this statistical surge may largely be due to Americans cumulative sun exposure, our aging populations, the more frequent use of artificial tanning beds by younger adults, and medical science’s improved detection technologies. “Unfortunately, it is just as easy today for an older adult as it is for a younger one to be the unsuspecting victim of misinformation. But, it is important that both help to debunk myths, as well as the misinformation falsely used online for entertainment purposes,” adds Dr. Steppie. “The truth is UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds can be the cause of major types of skin cancer that we treat, so sun protection is what's needed most at all ages, for all skin tones, and each skin type.”
UV MYTHS versus THE TRUTH
When myths are wrong, it can be bidirectionally confusing. That’s because, when one or more of the deciding factors is incorrect, chances are the decision that persons makes will not be the best answer. So, Expose the Truth Not Your Skin is a perfectslogan for warning for the public that takes aim at fighting both misinformation and disinformation regarding sun protection and skin cancer. Discussed below are common myths that can keep you from making a safer choice for your skin:
- Sunscreen Causes Skin Cancer – There is no scientific evidence that sunscreen products cause skin cancer. The truth is, clinical evidence suggests it is an essential tool in reducing the risk of developing basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma, which are the most common types.
- SPF 100 is Significantly Better than SPF 50 – To say an SPF 100 sunscreen is twice as strong as an SPF 50 would be wrong, as tests show near identical protection. The truth is, that may be due to how difficult it is to be broad spectrum (protecting against UVA and UVB) while achieving a rating of SPF 100.
- Sunscreen is the Only Way to Protect the Skin – The truth is, experts recommend applying broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily but along with wearing UV-protective clothing and wide-brimmed hats. In addition, the Skin Cancer Foundation says seek shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- UV Rays are Strongest When It’s Hottest – You might have heard that you can’t get sun-damage on cloudy days, but this is another myth as UV rays easily pass through clouds. The truth is, the heat of the day comes from infrared rays not UV, as ultraviolet rays don’t generate heat until absorbed.
- Base Tans Protect Your Skin from UV Exposure – This is one of the most dangerous UV myths, as a base tan does not protect your skin from UV radiation. The truth is, a tan is actually a positive sign of DNA damage to your skin that only offers minor sun protection of about SPF 3.
- UV Damage is Only Dangerous if You Burn – Also a dangerous myth, UV damage is harmful for everyone, regardless of skin type or whether they are subject to sunburn. The truth is, hidden UV damage that can lead to skin cancer occurs without obvious signs of redness or sunburn.
- After Products Repair Sunburn Damage – Although soothing products feel great after a day in the sun, the truth is, they only fix the unpleasant side effects of a sunburn and cannot repair any of the damage that was done to the DNA inside your cells. Ditch plans to repair sun damage and protect skin instead.
Taking back the Orlando UV Index and exposing the truth about sun protection are steps in the right direction to reduce your risk of skin cancer. Since skin cancer can affect anyone and nobody has a zero risk factor, any strange spot on your skin or under your nails should be examined by a dermatologist. If it looks unusual to you, remember catching skin cancer at its earliest stage means treatment is much more likely to be successful. So, don’t normalize tanning, don’t use UV tanning devices, don’t avoid sunscreen on cloudy days or during cooler temperatures, don’t think window glass offers UV protection, and don’t spread misinformation and always check out the facts for yourself. It's the safest approach to enjoying time outdoors.
______________________
Although false narratives regarding daily use of the UV Index for protecting the skin can be found on social media sites and popular group forums. An errant approach promotes that harmful myths can lead to increased DNA damage, premature skin aging, and greater risks of developing melanoma, especially among younger adults. That’s important as each person’s UV skin damage is accumulative over time. Referred to online as a mis-info-demic, it falsely glamourizes UV exposure and labels life-saving skin protection as toxic. Misinformation may also suggest that skin cancer only affects fair-skinned or older individuals, but that dangerously may lead people of color or younger adults to ignore a suspicious spot. If you notice anything unusual, call 800-827-7546 or schedule an annual skin exam online for one of Associates in Dermatology’s sixteen Central Florida offices in Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Celebration, Clermont, Davenport, Dr. Philips, Hunter's Creek, Kissimmee, Mount Dora, Ocoee, Poinciana, or St. Cloud.
