‘Perineum Sunning’ is the bizarre ancient wellness trend that's all over TikTok. We get to the bottom of it...

Ahh TikTok. It’s a curious place. One minute, you’re scrolling past Selena Gomez’s latest mascara hack, the next you’re faced with ‘perineum sunning,’ (or naked people, spreadeagled, presenting their derrières to the sun in the name of wellness.). 

Yep, it's a bit of a weird one, but #perineumsunning has, so far, picked up over 2.4 million views on the video-sharing app, with users asking: “Think about it…why would you sun all of your body except your reproductive organs?” and others insisting: “People always ask me how I am so happy all the time. Sunning your holes [you can guess which ones] for two minutes a day will increase your vibrations. Try it.”

One user, @laurenannekennedy has introduced mates to the practice, too, to help them get a “serotonin boost.”

It's not the first time we've seen the strange ritual take off on social media. Back in 2019, MetaphysicalMeagan, an Instagram account run by a self-confessed “mermaid mystic, healer, teacher, and weightlifter,” posted a now-viral picture of herself engaging in a spot of “Perineum Sunning” which she describes as “an ancient Taoist practice that’s been around for a while.”

“For the past few weeks, I have included sunning my bum and yoni [sanskrit lingo for vagina, folks] into my daily rising routine,” she explained. “Many of you have been asking about the benefits of this practice,” she says, noting “30 seconds of sunlight on your butthole is the equivalent of a full day of sunlight with your clothes on”, but she revealed the benefits she personally encountered include “surges of energy almost immediately, better sleep, better connection to my sexual energy and control of my life force, and attracting my desires and intentions with ease”.

Dubious? You’re not alone. Twitter is unconvinced. “People out here butt-chugging sunlight,” user @sisterofonline, shared to her followers in a tweet that’s since accumulated over 75 thousand likes. “Can someone please pass me the study showing that 30 seconds of butthole sunlight is equal to an entire day of non-butthole sunlight?” asked @e_cleazy. “Is this what my cat has been studying its entire life?”

Some have praised the social media savviness of Metaphystical Meagan and others like her: “on the one hand that is the dippiest naked yoga practice I’ve ever seen,” said @ringcycles. “On the other, [they] likely gained 8k new followers from that post. You can’t buy that kind of, um, exposure.”

And others seem ready to indulge in a little bum-bathing (that’s bum sunbathing) of their own: “I wonder if I could do this w my SAD lamp? [sic]” said @hunnylord. “Life is short, sun yr buns if ya want to [sic]” concurred @e_lee_sule.

To remove any confusion and guide others in their bum-bathing endeavours, Metaphysical Meagan also posted a deeper dive into the dos and don’ts of the practice. “The intention is not to tan your butthole!” she said. “Sunscreen is not required & all you really need is 30 seconds of sun exposure,” she added, with the hashtag #ButtholeSunning. "Mantak Chia speaks about this in his work, as does my friend @ra_of_earth."

But – safety first – to clarify the scientific advantages of sunning your nethers, we consulted a GP to get the low-down on “perineum sunning” before anyone lies back and thinks of England.

A leading medical expert (who asked not to be named) told us, “Obviously sun rays give you vitamin D [which can help keep bones and teeth healthy]. That said, you’d be exposing an area of your body that is never normally exposed to the sun, which can increase the likelihood of skin cancer.” As for its ability to increase energy and strengthen organs, she dubbed it “unlikely”.

And TikTok's favourite dermatologist, Dr Dustin Portela took to the platform to clear up his own thoughts on the matter. “The claims made in these videos have absolutely no evidence,” he says. “You don't need to sun that really sensitive area.” Also, he adds “we literally evolved to walk upright where that area doesn't get sun, so you shouldn't be turning it up toward the fireball in the sky in order to expose it.” Most concerningly, he revealed “I've removed skin cancer from people: around the anus, on the vulva, on the penis. You don't want cancer around that area and, definitively, putting sun on that area, you're highly likely to get burned if you're doing that because it's an area that doesn't get a lot of sun exposure, and that's going to increase your risk of skin cancer.” He concludes, “don't do perineum sunning. It's a stupid idea.”

So there you have it, your behind isn't a solar panel after all, and charging it up like a Sony Walkman sadly won't enable you to store energy in your rear end to power you through the day. That said, for many, nakedness can encourage feelings of liberation, so as far as your sexual libido goes, you do you. Just, maybe skip the risqué butthole sun salutations.

For more from GLAMOUR's Beauty Editor, Elle Turner, follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk