A prominent US-based gynecologist has come forward to warn people against an Instagram trend known as ‘bum sunning’ - which could cause skin cancer.

The trouble began after an Instagram influencer with the handle @metaphysicalmeagan shared an image of herself on a naked hike out in the desert. She was bent over on her back with her legs in the air, exposing her backside, genitals, and perineum to the hot sun.

She captioned her post: "F 30 seconds of sunlight on your butthole is the equivalent of a full day of sunlight with your clothes on! ... This is truly more energizing than slamming cups of coffee and is a great alternative to consuming neurotoxic coffee & caffeine that can disrupt your adrenal gland health. This is such a simple game changing practice!! [sic]"

When criticized for promoting the bizarre practice, the influencer responded with a follow-up post, in which she wrote: "I know I TRIGGER the f*%# out of people! Since I was a young child, just my mere existence and BEING has triggered a lot in others. This is actually one of my favorite things about me. [sic]"

However, many social media users were left incredulous over her claims, and Dr. Jennifer Gunter, author of the popular gynecological health book The Vagina Bible, was one of them.

Dr. Gunter took to Twitter to write: "I feel confident when I say the anus and perineum have no special sunlight concentrating abilities. You can get melanoma on the vulva and sunburns there are very painful."

Guys, I shouldn't have to say this: please don't try this yourself. It's almost certainly a way to end up red and sore in a place where you really don't want to be either ...

A prominent US-based gynecologist has come forward to warn people against an Instagram trend known as ‘bum sunning’ - which could cause skin cancer.

The trouble began after an Instagram influencer with the handle @metaphysicalmeagan shared an image of herself on a naked hike out in the desert. She was bent over on her back with her legs in the air, exposing her backside, genitals, and perineum to the hot sun.

She captioned her post: "F 30 seconds of sunlight on your butthole is the equivalent of a full day of sunlight with your clothes on! ... This is truly more energizing than slamming cups of coffee and is a great alternative to consuming neurotoxic coffee & caffeine that can disrupt your adrenal gland health. This is such a simple game changing practice!! [sic]"

When criticized for promoting the bizarre practice, the influencer responded with a follow-up post, in which she wrote: "I know I TRIGGER the f*%# out of people! Since I was a young child, just my mere existence and BEING has triggered a lot in others. This is actually one of my favorite things about me. [sic]"

However, many social media users were left incredulous over her claims, and Dr. Jennifer Gunter, author of the popular gynecological health book The Vagina Bible, was one of them.

Dr. Gunter took to Twitter to write: "I feel confident when I say the anus and perineum have no special sunlight concentrating abilities. You can get melanoma on the vulva and sunburns there are very painful."

Guys, I shouldn't have to say this: please don't try this yourself. It's almost certainly a way to end up red and sore in a place where you really don't want to be either ...