Sunbathing Disaster: Woman's Viral Tanning Hack with Cooking Oil Sparks Outrage Among Health Experts

Ever wonder if there’s a wrong way to catch some sun? Well, let me tell you about a tanning hack that’s got folks online talking…and it’s leaving skin experts absolutely gobsmacked! Social media, the playground of unconventional life hacks, has just showcased a doozy of a beauty “tip” that’s making tanning look like an episode from a culinary mishap TV show. While flipping burgers might involve a generous spritz of Frylight’s golden sunflower oil, one woman decided this was just the ticket for… sunbathing?

Courts Ingham, at the tender age of 22, took to TikTok to share her skin-deep experiment in solar alchemy, dousing herself in cooking oil with hopes of bronzing herself to perfection. The result? A frenzy on social platforms with comments that range from uproarious to downright harrowing.

Now, you might ask, “Isn’t oil supposed to make food crispy, not skin?” Well, let’s just say dermatologists are having a field day—or rather, a field bake. They’re not just crying; they’re having full-blown dermatological meltdowns over the sheer insanity of this practice. And I’m left pondering, in our quest for that sun-kissed glow, have we forgotten that there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing—or in this case, too much… oil?

As we sun lovers know, sun safety is paramount. But using cooking oil as a tanning accelerator? That’s like setting out to cook your dinner with suntan lotion. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t work, and the only thing you’d end up broiling is your own skin. In the sun, like in the kitchen, some ingredients just don’t mix.

It’s moments like these that make me both chuckle and cringe, marveling at the bizarre beauty rituals people will concoct at home, only to create a viral moment that underscores the importance of proper sun care. So gather ’round, dear readers, for a tale of oil, skin, and cautionary sunbeams, and a reminder that maybe, just maybe, we should keep our culinary oils where they belong—in the pantry, not the beach bag.

Wanna dive deeper into this sizzling skincare saga? LEARN MORE.

Although you’d think it’s obvious that cooking oil is strictly reserved for culinary activities, it turns out that some people believe it’s the perfect sidekick for sunbathers.

One woman has caused quite the stir on social media, while sharing her supposed tanning hack, which has left health experts ‘horrified.’

Courts Ingham, 22, shared a TikTok video showing how she douses herself in Frylight’s golden sunflower oil in the hopes of becoming bronzed.

She was seen spritzing the cooking spray on her legs as she caught some rays in the UK, while claiming the results were ‘so worth it.’

Frylight might be suitable for frying, baking, grilling and roasting, but it should not be used for sunbathing.

Courts then shared another clip of her sunburned skin alongside the caption: “This is one hour after using veg oil as a tanning accelerator!”

She also told concerned commenters, who she branded ‘snowflakes’, that ‘OBVIOUSLY, if it was burning too much, you’d wash it off.’

It’s safe to say the majority of the more than 775,000 people who have watched the video couldn’t believe their eyes, if the comment section is anything to go by.

One person wrote: “Dermatologists are crying rn.”

Social media users were left stunned by the lengths people go to for a tan (TikTok/@courtsinghamx)

A second speculated: “This must be rage bait.”

A third viewer warned: “This sent me to hospital girl be careful.”

A fourth added: “LITERALLY FRYING YOURSELF.”

While a fifth said: “This is insane,” – and health experts are of the same opinion.

Boffins said they were left stunned that people are still partaking in the ‘extremely dangerous’ tanning practice, which first became popular in the 1970s.

Back in the day, loads of Brits soaked their skin in cooking oil, baby oil and coconut oil instead of sun cream, believing it allowed them to tan faster.

But the trend thankfully seemed to fizzle out when we all became a bit more educated on how UVA rays can damage our skin.

The damage builds up over time, causing premature aging and increasing the risk of skin cancer – and if cooking oil is also in the mix, it only makes matters ten times worse.

These sort of lubricants can increase the penetration of UV rays into the skin, as well as heightening the risk of you getting a severe sunburn.

It’s a ‘horrifying’ tanning ritual according to Dr Sophie Momnen, a consultant dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic, who warned that it is ‘extremely dangerous and poses serious risks to skin health.’

Skin experts have stressed the importance of protecting yourself in the sun (Getty Stock Image)

“Cooking oils are not formulated for skin application, especially under intense UV exposure,” she told the Daily Mail.

“In fact, spraying a substance like Frylight onto your skin while sunbathing can act like a magnifying glass, intensifying the sun’s rays and increasing the risk of severe sunburn, heat damage and long-term cellular injury.”

Dr Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics skin clinics, warned people that sadly, there is ‘no such thing as a safe tan.’

Stressing the importance of protecting your skin in the sunshine, he explained that ‘just one sunburn in your lifetime can potentially lead to skin cancer down the line.’

“The dangers of using cooking oil in the sun can be severe,” Dr Perry said. “Getting badly sunburnt can lead to sunstroke, which in extreme cases may be fatal.

“Beyond the immediate effects, you’re also damaging the skin’s outer layer, which can result in pigmentation, sun spots, and premature ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles.

“Over time, repeated sunburn can significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer.”

Both experts urged Brits to use sunscreen with at least SPF30, while basking in the sunshine, but explained it is better to stay covered up and camp out in the shade when you can.

“I urge everyone to prioritise sun safety: always use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen, seek shade during peak hours (11am-3pm) and avoid unsafe TikTok ‘hacks,'” Dr Momnen added.

WWE star John Cena recently spoke out about the importance of shielding your skin from sun damage after admitting he paid the price for ‘never’ wearing suncream.