Kim Kardashian is no stranger to stirring up controversy. From her tone-deaf comments about how she works harder than everyone else to the ongoing accusations that she (and her sisters) are guilty of cultural appropriation when it comes to the looks they've crafted for themselves, she definitely draws her fair share of critics. Now, following a TikTok video tour of her Skims office, she's being accused of promoting the use of unsafe tanning beds to her young fans.
Of course, Kim being Kim means that she's not taking this criticism well. She's taken to social media to fire back, claiming that she uses the beds for treatment of a medical condition. All of this has doctors and fans fired up and talking about Kim again, so let's get into her latest attention-grabbing moment.
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In the video, Kim proudly shows off her over-the-top office.
Kim's Skims office is basically a shrine to herself, filled with photos of her on many of the walls, a 3D replica of her brain, and a model of her private jet. Given that nobody has ever accused the 43-year-old mogul of being overly modest, these self-aggrandizing items didn't really create any controversy.
Instead, it was her two tanning beds that she said that she "of course" had in her office that has fans, medical professionals, and beauty industry insiders all taking notice.
The use of tanning beds is associated with increased risks of skin cancer.
It isn't surprising to learn that Kim, who regularly tries to darken her natural skin tone, likes being tan. People were surprised, however, to see that she was going about it using machines proven to increase skin cancer risks. According to the FDA, tanning lights and tanning beds should never be used by people younger than 18 and aren't recommended for anyone to use as they "are more dangerous than previously thought" and can lead to skin cancer, skin burns, premature skin aging, and eye damage.
It is interesting that Kim, who once told Allure magazine that "I would probably eat s— if someone told me: ‘If you eat this bowl of poop every single day, you’ll look younger,'" is willing to use a tanning bed, which is known to cause wrinkles and to change skin texture.
Critics are worried Kim's fans will think tanning beds are safe to use after learning the reality star use them.
Medical professionals, including dermatologist Dr. Dray, took to TikTok to call out Kim.
As Dray says in the clip, "There is no such thing as a safe tan, especially not from a tanning bed! Tanning beds are so dangerous and destructive to the skin. Tanning beds dramatically speed up how quickly your skin ages. Indoor tanning can increase your risk squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma."
Kim now claims that she uses her tanning bed to treat a medical condition.
Kim took to social media to defend herself, saying she uses the bed to help treat her psoriasis and that she "doesn't use it too often."
Although there is some evidence that targeted phototherapy can help that skin condition, the National Psoriasis Foundation has clear guidance that tanning beds aren't medically approved for this purpose.
Its website is crystal clear: "Some people visit tanning salons as an alternative to natural sunlight. Tanning beds in commercial salons emit mostly UVA light, not UVB. The beneficial effect for psoriasis is attributed primarily to UVB light. NPF does not support the use of indoor tanning beds as a substitute for phototherapy performed with a prescription and under a health care provider’s supervision."
Kim's family history with skin cancer makes using tanning beds seems like a questionable choice.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, "exposure to UV radiation from indoor tanning devices is associated with an increased risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, and nonmelanoma skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma."
Given that Kim's sister Khloé has had at least two surgical procedures to remove melanomas (once on her back and once on her face), Kim's decision to own and use something that is scientifically proven to increase cancer risk seems wildly risky.
This incident is another good reminder that the Kardashians shouldn't be a source of medical or beauty advice, especially for their youngest fans.
