The Outdated Boomer Summer Habit Millennials Would Never Do Today

If you didn't frolic in the pool while your baby boomer parents slathered themselves in a thick layer of baby oil and sunbathed to their hearts' content, or are you even a millennial? "Baby oil has been used for decades by our parents and their parents as a way to boost your tanning chances, as baby oil attracts and absorbs UV rays easily as there is no SPF element," skincare expert Bruce Green explained to the Mirror in 2023 about boomers' obsession with roasting their skin in the mineral oil. 

Fortunately, however, the boomers' millennial counterparts are well-versed on the harmful effects of prolonged overexposure to the sun and simply wouldn't be caught dead doing such a thing. "Sun exposure is cumulative, and chronic overexposure to the sun can damage the integrity and health of your skin, hasten the aging process, and lead to a higher risk of skin cancers," dermatologist Susan Massick, M.D., told Byrdie about what getting a tan really does to your skin. Add baby oil to the mix and, well, millennials know that's a recipe for disaster. "[Baby oil] can make you tan more quickly because it absorbs the sun better," dermatologist Shari Sperling, M.D., explained to Byrdie. "However, it's not worth the risk of damaging the skin and potentially developing skin cancer."

Sadly, however, it appears that Gen Z never got the memo about the risks of getting a summer tan. Since 2024, there has been a massive resurgence in people between the ages of 14 and 29 taking part in the harmful pastime now widely known as "tanmaxxing," a trend wherein the generation works to achieve the deepest, darkest tan possible through various methods, including coating their skin in baby oil and various other tanning products before lying outside in the hot summer sun. And they have the skin damage to prove it! According to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology Association, half of Gen Zers got sunburned in 2024. 

"Despite knowing the risks, young people are still tanning because they like what they're getting out of it. They feel more physically attractive when tan, and this is reinforced in social circles and on social media," Sherry Pagoto, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences within the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) and Director of the UConn Center for Health and Social Media, told UConn Today. "Social media amplifies everything to a larger audience, and it's keeping the idea of being tan as a way to enhance physical appearance alive."

Unfortunately, social pressures aside, the practice of so-called "tanmaxxing" is still very, very bad for your skin. "That is absolutely not recommended," Hao Feng, M.D., associate professor of dermatology at UConn Health, told CT Insider. "That is the exact opposite of what we love to see people doing. (Go ahead and file that one under what experts want Gen Z to know about sun safety.)