Sun Safety Week and Society's Obsession With Being Tan

Free Lisa,

Thank you for your comment on this issue. The link is a great information source also.

I think 'tanning' is up to the individual. What drives me crazy, however, is the absolute incorrect information that all sun exposure is unhealthy, and the Dr. recommended instruction to never go out in the sun 'unprotected'. They don't mention that 10,000 to 20,000 IU's of Vit D is required to prevent a wide variety of deadly cancers, helps prevent obesity and all the associated illnesses (heart disease, diabetes) etc. The 'take a supplelment' advice is good, but it's tough to get that many IU's from supplements. And, remember, 'dairy' doesn't come with Vit. D naturally, and was orignally added because child labor in mines & factories caused all the kids to get rickets from lack of sun...and dairy products when tested 'off the shelf' often contains NO vitamin D at all! 20 minutes a day IS enough, if not using suncsreen and you live S of Boston and it's between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. But still, that's onlly in spring, summer and fall. Winter is the 'flu season' because of lack of vitamin D. So, for me, I use a tanning booth judiciously in winter, and sometimes in the rest of the year depending on my ability to find time for sun during the middle of the day. It's good to check for skin cancer. But, you can't see lung cancer. And, further (google Vit. D ,Vit D Cancer Prevention etc) lack of Vitamin D is the underlying cause of melanoma cancer, not too much sun. I've read that evolutinarily speaking, humans turned white as they moved north out of Africa, because the intensity of sunshine was so much less in northern climes, and white skin allows more sunlight to enter. White skin is a biological solution to a lack of vitamin D. We're 'supposed' to be lightly tan if we're white. If we're not white, and living in the north, even more time in the sun is necessary to get the necessary levels of Vit. D. (Vit. D is a hormone, and acts in a hormonal funtion way...ie, lack of Vit. D is the underlying cause of 'hormonal' cancers, like breast cancer. And, you've heard of the 'unexplained' rise of breast cancer in men? Lack of sunlight in our modern air conditioned indoor lifestyle! One more thing,...all the ads on tv now for Big Pharma's solution to the 'pain of fibromyalgia"? Stage one rickets make your bones hurt...that's the 'unexplained pain' syndrome. Cured with a tan! but, that wouldn't sell any drugs, so it's 'fibromyalgia' and here's your prescription to 'treat it' not cure it. A good source of healing news is www.naturalnews.com It's not funded by any pharmaceutical or neutracuetical companies.

I am naturally pale and have horribly blotchy skin. I tan because it honestly makes me look better and not like a sickly albino. Yes there are risks with tanning. But the same could be said about driving. When you get in a car you have a decent chance of getting in an accident. But yet you continue to drive.
It's a personal decision and I'm sick of hearing the negatives.

number 1: sunburn is caused by your skin not having enough antioxidants in your body, so eat tons of berries and other antioxidant rich foods.

number 2: sunscreen has many chemicals in it that actually cause cancer, instead of preventing it. It also blocks ultraviolet radiation from reaching the skin, preventing the body from producing vitamin D.

number 3: being out in the sun is good for you, it provides your body with vitamin D, which prevents over 77 different types of cancer

doctors recommend sunscreen because, like with prescription drugs, they get a hefty pay to advertise for the sunscreen companies. Not too long ago doctors recommended cocaine and cigarettes as ways to improve your health. The doctors aren't the ones that do the actual research on products such as these, so they only go with what they are told by the drug companies. Don't believe everything you are told by the media, because they sugarcoat everything just to make a profit. do your own research people.

think it's mad how people still want to tan when we all know the dangers. I see girls at my college campus all lying out in bikinis, looking like easy women aswell, as getting all burnt. I don't get it!
I am very pale, of Danish background and think that I am beautiful as I am. People who are naturally brown are beautiful too. What looks bad are these little pale girls, trying to look like bronzed goddesses and just ending up being prematurely aged and having possible melanomas in their 20's and 30's.

.... Lol, juest because they sun bath on campus there easy?

Jeez, you need to relax.

You do realize that you need exposure to UV rays to get vitamin D? and not only that, it also helps clear up skin.
Yeah too much is bad, but you need some!

OMG... I can't believe that in this day and age people are still tanning. It's the same with smoking, and drinking. Jesus here in Ca. 15 minutes out in the sun without an umbrella and you can FEEL the burning. If you ask me I would like nothing more than to have blue eyes blond hair and Ivory white skin.

I just had this conversation with my friends as it is a beautiful sunny day and we all want to spend it in the pool. The most important thing when it comes to sun exposure is moderation and the use protection (sunscreens, etc.).

As a person with a Vitamin D deficiency, there is nothing more that makes me feel better than the bright sunshine. We must protect ourselves but not be afraid to enjoy the pure joy that sun brings. Be safe.

Fortunately with regular check-ups and self-exams skin cancer is quite easily identified (and then treated). The REAL anti-cancer tip is getting some sun! Vitamin D is a potent anti-cancer agent that is only just now becoming well-researched. Once you've got a base and you know you won't burn feel free to spend some time in the sun, soking up rays and getting lots o' the sunshine vitamin!