TikTok is often responsible for popularising weird and wonderful wellness trends. But experts have warned that the latest health trend emerging on the social media platform is actually extremely dangerous. The wellness hack causing all the drama is the bizarre practice of 'perineum sunning' - otherwise known as sunning your genitals. Clips in which influencers promote the practice and explain its so-called "health benefits" have racked up millions of views on the platform. In one video that has been viewed 6.1 million times, a TikToker chats to the camera while in a downward dog-style position as she suns her derriere. [[tiktokwidget||https://www.tiktok.com/@jenn_dances4fun/video/6835679589092609285]] The woman claims that the practice helps soak up vitamin D and give an energy boost, saying: "30 seconds is equivalent to walking around in the sunlight all day long." Another advocate for perineum sunning, Pauly Long, gave a similar explanation in one of his videos, where he claimed: "Sunning your perineal boosts your energy levels, helps you heal faster, and increases cell reproduction." [[tiktokwidget||https://www.tiktok.com/@paulylong/video/7125819745181633838]] In a later video, he continued to rave about the benefits of the practice, writing: "When our skin absorbs sunlight it generates Vitamin D, supports bone health, lowers blood pressure, and promotes incredible mental health. Why would you skip the part that creates human beings? However, experts weren't convinced. In his own TikTok video, dermatologist Dr. Dustin Portela hit back at the claims made by Pauly Long. <img class="wp-image-1263157575 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2022/06/sunscreen-1.jpg" alt="" width="1535" height="800" />[[imagecaption|| Mykola Sosiukin / Alamy]] "The claims made have absolutely no evidence to boosting anything. You don’t need to sun that really sensitive area," he said. "We’ve evolved to walk upright where this area literally doesn’t get sun so you shouldn't be turning it up towards the fireball in the sky in order to expose it," the doctor continued. He went on to explain that the practice increased the chances of getting cancer in the sensitive nether regions. [[tiktokwidget||https://www.tiktok.com/@drdustinportela/video/7126671937182551342]] "I’ve removed skin cancers from people from around the anus, vulva and on the penis. You don’t want cancer in that area and putting sun on that area you’re highly likely to get burned and that will increase your risk of skin cancer and then somebody like me is going to have to stick a needle in there," he said, before concluding: "I’m telling you don’t do perineum sunning, it’s a stupid idea." The doctor captioned his explanation jokingly: "You shouldn’t be intentionally sunning anything, let alone the place where the sun don’t shine." Put simply; listen to the medical experts on this one and keep your full moon away from the sun. <h6>Featured Image Credit: Mark Thomas / Alamy</h6>

Skin doctor warns against new TikTok trend that encourages people to tan their privates

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