2008 Woodie Awards
Skinner: Tanning trends teach women to hide true colors
Julie Skinner
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Opinion
Ah, it's springtime.
Time for the world to turn vibrant green and for sheltered toes to see the light of day. Time for itchy sweaters to move to the back of the closet while moving funky-colored tanks, skirts and capris to the front of the line.
This is also the time of year when tanning salons make an absolute killing.
Since high school, I've noticed a trend in girls and springtime — the obsession with looking tan before summer arrives. Back then, it was because of prom and needing just a little "color" to play up their backless dresses. Now, it's to have a base tan for the beach or to not look so sickly after the winter months.
I, myself, was guilty of this trend, paying monthly or by visit to lay in an artificially sunlit box with crackling bulbs above my head, wearing goggles and smearing tanning lotion that smelled like burnt pineapple on my skin.
I did this weekly even though my mother had multiple skin cancers removed from her body over the years. I did this, even though my dates to prom never commented on my nearly burnt complexion — or even noticed for that matter. I did this, even though I felt ashamed to be following a trend that was an unhealthy habit and, in some cases, an addiction.
Truth commercials are blaring on MTV every time you turn on the tube. They drill it into your skull that smoking is deadly, that nicotine is addicting and that it is no longer "cool" or "rugged" to smoke. Commercials about meth are playing constantly as well to show the physical decay meth addicts will endure using the drug.
They take intelligent, edgy kids and put them on commercials speaking out against these addictions to show that you can be trendy, new age and smart without being influenced. They've made health-conscious teens and young adults the new trend and have done away with the rebellious image of the constant partier always up for a buzz.
They're awesome, don't get me wrong.
But when was the last time you saw an ad about the dangers of skin cancer?
Time for the world to turn vibrant green and for sheltered toes to see the light of day. Time for itchy sweaters to move to the back of the closet while moving funky-colored tanks, skirts and capris to the front of the line.
This is also the time of year when tanning salons make an absolute killing.
Since high school, I've noticed a trend in girls and springtime — the obsession with looking tan before summer arrives. Back then, it was because of prom and needing just a little "color" to play up their backless dresses. Now, it's to have a base tan for the beach or to not look so sickly after the winter months.
I, myself, was guilty of this trend, paying monthly or by visit to lay in an artificially sunlit box with crackling bulbs above my head, wearing goggles and smearing tanning lotion that smelled like burnt pineapple on my skin.
I did this weekly even though my mother had multiple skin cancers removed from her body over the years. I did this, even though my dates to prom never commented on my nearly burnt complexion — or even noticed for that matter. I did this, even though I felt ashamed to be following a trend that was an unhealthy habit and, in some cases, an addiction.
Truth commercials are blaring on MTV every time you turn on the tube. They drill it into your skull that smoking is deadly, that nicotine is addicting and that it is no longer "cool" or "rugged" to smoke. Commercials about meth are playing constantly as well to show the physical decay meth addicts will endure using the drug.
They take intelligent, edgy kids and put them on commercials speaking out against these addictions to show that you can be trendy, new age and smart without being influenced. They've made health-conscious teens and young adults the new trend and have done away with the rebellious image of the constant partier always up for a buzz.
They're awesome, don't get me wrong.
But when was the last time you saw an ad about the dangers of skin cancer?
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
Jim
posted 3/27/08 @ 1:30 AM CST
Moderate exposure to UV light is healthy behavior.
The benefits of tanning far outweigh any possible risks.
Don't sunburn. Don't overdue it. And, yes, use the quality indoor tanning lotions available at better tanning salons. (Continued…)
Saisai
posted 9/13/08 @ 8:30 PM CST
The tanning trend was started by Coco Chanel when she *accidentally* got a tan in France. Rather than swallow her pride and admit she made a mistake, she declared that "a 1929 girl must have a tan. (Continued…)
Golden
Golden
posted 9/15/08 @ 12:39 PM CST
I see women all the time who are obviously not of orange desent. The truth is that if you are white than chances are you look good white. My brother is white and he hates it. (Continued…)
J. Patrick McGrail, Ph.D.
posted 9/16/08 @ 4:35 PM CST
Actually, the science says that tanning salons may be harmful, even in "moderate" amounts. That's because tanning is the skin responding to too much UVA and UVB rays. (Continued…)
Clark Barron
posted 9/16/08 @ 10:43 PM CST
Without getting too verbose in this response, I'll ask this:
What happened to simply going outside longer than to get the mail?
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