This summer, Ms. Huizi from Foshan publicly shared her experience of losing 4 pounds in 10 days by sunbathing her back, while the “back tanning community occupying major parks in Shanghai” also trended online, alongside various “back tanning enthusiasts” sharing their experiences on social media across the country… The term “back tanning” has repeatedly dominated the trending topics.
Does sunbathing really have miraculous effects like weight loss and dampness elimination? Is it suitable for everyone? What’s the correct way to do it?
Image source: Xiaohongshu user @小可爱叫小聪
Some feel “very comfortable,” while others have “suffered from sunbathing”
“I’ve been sunbathing for over ten days, and my body feels warm and really comfortable.” Yuzu, based in Nanjing, describes herself as a “traditional Chinese medicine learner” in her social media profile. Since the beginning of the initial heat wave in mid-July, Yuzu has joined the sunbathing movement, clocking in 20 minutes of sunbathing at 9 AM every day. Recently, after sharing her sunbathing experience, the comment section and her inbox have been flooded with others seeking to share their experiences with her; a user from Hubei shared in the comment section her “miraculous experience” of curing chronic eczema through sunbathing. However, this has also sparked some skepticism: “Isn’t it dangerous to sunbathe like this?”
Yuzu and her friends sunbathing (Image source: Xiaohongshu user @梨柚子)
This summer, many people share similar wellness hobbies as Yuzu. A search for “back tanning” on Xiaohongshu reveals nearly ten thousand notes on the popular topic “benefits of back tanning,” with people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds sharing their “effective postures” for sunbathing.
On the other hand, amidst the positive remarks about sunbathing for “dampness removal and weight loss,” the reporter also noticed voices warning against “back tanning.”
At the end of July, Xiao Duo from Henan saw a post on social media about “sunbathing to expel dampness during the summer heat,” and decided to try it. After a few days, she did not feel any “benefits,” but rather experienced dizziness and insomnia. Realizing something was wrong, she quickly sought medical advice. After a diagnosis, the doctor advised her to stop sunbathing, and it was then she learned that not everyone is suited for this practice. Subsequently, she shared her “back tanning failure” experience on social media, cautioning others to avoid blindly following trends.
The reporter continued to search for keywords like “who shouldn’t do back tanning” on Xiaohongshu and found that there are already over 3.39 million related posts.
Doctors advise: Some people can do it, but not everyone needs to sunbathe
Who is actually suitable for back tanning? What “knowledge points” should be understood regarding sunbathing?
Previously, renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner Dr. Zou Xu from Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine said in an article in the China Traditional Chinese Medicine News that moderate sun exposure can promote blood circulation and balance yin and yang, enhancing the body’s disease resistance and improving metabolism among other benefits.
Three main types of people are suitable for back tanning during the summer heat: first, certain chronic illness patients, such as those with depression, Alzheimer’s disease, allergic coughs, rhinitis, pharyngitis, dysmenorrhea, etc., can benefit from sun exposure to replenish yang energy, achieving the effects of “nurturing yang in spring and summer.” The second group includes high-risk patients for cardiovascular diseases, such as those with high uric acid, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and high stress; they can use sun exposure to replenish yang energy, speed up metabolism, and act as a preventive measure. The third group consists of sub-healthy individuals who have poor gastrointestinal functions, are prone to colds, and are sensitive to temperature changes; sun exposure can help replenish yang energy and promote overall fluid circulation, improving their sub-healthy state.
Dr. Sun Zhe, chief physician at Baoan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Shenzhen, indicates that…
