2008 Woodie Awards
Why tanning is dumb
Kaiulani Kauahi
Issue date: 5/9/06 Section: Detour
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I hate tanning and I think it is dumb. There. I've said it. Perhaps it is because I live in Hawaii and my whole life I've had to deal with tanners of both sorts: tourist and non-tourist.
Now that I live in an apartment I have to put up with people laying out on the pool deck so desperate to increase their chances of getting skin cancer and rushing to a finish line where the prize for first place is getting wrinkles at age 22. For someone vain enough to risk skin cancer in order to look "better," wouldn't wrinkles be a deterrent? I don't get it. I realize that more than half of you won't agree seeing as it's your pasty bodies that I see lying out on the Chapel and dorm lawns, but from the rest of you, can I get an Amen?
Besides, many of us sun-folk (people who know the sun and its effects too well to want to tan) could tell you that tanning isn't healthy. Any sort of tan is actually dangerous. Did you know if you've had only two severe sun burns (severe meaning you've burnt so badly you turn brown then peel) that you're a candidate for skin cancer?
Besides the whole life-altering experience of Melanoma (if that isn't enough for you) there's also the more superficial things to deal with. Pre-cancerous growths, areas of the body (most commonly chests) covered in pre-mature age spots, and wrinkles at an earlier age than most. So let's weigh these pros and cons, on one hand you're a few shades darker than usual and people can tell you're not really supposed to be that color. I guess that's a pro? But on the other hand you're covered in growths, cancer, age spots, and wrinkles; definite cons. Hmmm…unnatural skin tone and cancer, or a few shades lighter and healthy?
Don't get me wrong, I love the sun. I love lying in the sun and enjoying its warmth, but seriously- just like everything else: use protection. Sunscreen can save your life.
Now that I live in an apartment I have to put up with people laying out on the pool deck so desperate to increase their chances of getting skin cancer and rushing to a finish line where the prize for first place is getting wrinkles at age 22. For someone vain enough to risk skin cancer in order to look "better," wouldn't wrinkles be a deterrent? I don't get it. I realize that more than half of you won't agree seeing as it's your pasty bodies that I see lying out on the Chapel and dorm lawns, but from the rest of you, can I get an Amen?
Besides, many of us sun-folk (people who know the sun and its effects too well to want to tan) could tell you that tanning isn't healthy. Any sort of tan is actually dangerous. Did you know if you've had only two severe sun burns (severe meaning you've burnt so badly you turn brown then peel) that you're a candidate for skin cancer?
Besides the whole life-altering experience of Melanoma (if that isn't enough for you) there's also the more superficial things to deal with. Pre-cancerous growths, areas of the body (most commonly chests) covered in pre-mature age spots, and wrinkles at an earlier age than most. So let's weigh these pros and cons, on one hand you're a few shades darker than usual and people can tell you're not really supposed to be that color. I guess that's a pro? But on the other hand you're covered in growths, cancer, age spots, and wrinkles; definite cons. Hmmm…unnatural skin tone and cancer, or a few shades lighter and healthy?
Don't get me wrong, I love the sun. I love lying in the sun and enjoying its warmth, but seriously- just like everything else: use protection. Sunscreen can save your life.