I heard something on the radio yesterday that really made my skin boil. A very well known Canadian Tanning Salon company had an advertisement on the radio.
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It went a little something like this:
"Feel confident in your skin and look great with [insert company name here]. Say goodbye to pale and pasty skin! Tan the smart way!"
I was instantly ticked off.
From what I gathered, the commercial was telling me two things:
1) There was something wrong with my current skin tone
2) I could tan smart.
Oh really now.
Throughout my teens are early twenties, I was not immune to the pressures of tanning my skin. I tanned for my prom. I also tanned for a couple weddings that I was a bridesmaid in and I tanned for my own wedding.
I tanned on my honeymoon.
I knew that I shouldn’t be doing it, but I did it anyways. I called myself an ‘event tanner’- I tanned for events I wanted to look my best for and the rest of the time I wore ample sunscreen.
What did tanning leave me with?
- Premature aging of the skin
- Fine lines due to the damage from tanning
Not cool.
I kept telling myself that I would just tan for special events and that would be it. Well, after my wedding last year I asked myself:
‘When would I ever be good enough? When would I start to challenge how I felt about my skin without a tan and put an end to this ‘event’ tanning?’
I had to face the cold hard truth.
I was tanning to cover up my insecurities.
The more I started to think about it, the more angry I got. Every where I turned, the media was telling me that pale skin was ugly and needed to be darkened.
Of course, magazines jumped on the Anti-tanning Bandwagon and started to promote using self-tanners.
But I couldn’t help but wonder still:
- Why do we have to use ANYTHING?
- Why can’t the skin colour that we are born with be good enough?
- Why must it be lighter, darker, or different in any way?
- Isn’t using a self-tanner still buying into the notion that we still aren’t good enough the way we are?
It is absolutely infuriating when you stop and think about all of the messages out there telling women to change their skin.
Well, I am here to say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. And I want you to join me.
After my wedding last year I made another vow. This time it was to myself. I vowed that I would never set foot in a tanning salon again.
Here are some startling Canadian Statistics on Skin Cancer that may have you vowing to do the same:
Canadian Dermatology Association 2009 Skin Cancer Fact Sheet
Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Canadians.
It is also the most common cancer in the world.
• More than 75,100 Canadians will be diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer in 2009.
• Approximately 5,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2009 and 940 will die of it.
• Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer are the two most prevalent forms of this disease. Skin cancers, including melanoma, are highly curable if found and treated early.
• While less common, melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer since it can spread in the body and cause death.
• Canadians born in the 1990’s have two to three times higher lifetime risk of getting skin cancer compared to those born in the 1960’s. For those born in the 1990’s, there is a 1 in 6 lifetime risk of having skin cancer. For those born in the 1960’s, there is a 1 in 20 lifetime risk.
• The main cause of skin cancer is too much UV radiation.
• Skin cancer is one of a small number of cancers that can be prevented through simple measures such as limiting sun exposure, seeking shade, wearing hats and clothing, and using an SPF 30 or higher, broad spectrum sunscreen.
• There is a group of people at particularly high risk for skin cancer because of their skin type and amount of sun exposure. This includes those with: fair skin and blond or red hair; skin that burns and freckles easily rather than tans; a lot of sun exposure through outdoor work or recreation; many moles (> 50) or some large and unusual moles; a history of severe sunburns.
• Looking at all cancers found in the 15 to 29 age group, melanoma represented 7% of new cases in young men and 11% of new cases in young women, which may be attributable to social behaviours (seeking a tan), particularly in the latter group.• The rising rates of skin cancer are placing increased demands on dermatologists. There are fewer than 650 dermatologists to treat Canada’s population of more than 30 million. The number of dermatologists in Canada is decreasing rapidly as the rate of retirement far outstrips the number of new dermatologists in training.
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The truth is, there is no smart way to tan.
I am ready to learn to love my skin colour and appreciate the beauty in it. So what if most models and actresses have tans. Just think of Nicole Kidman and Anne Hathaway. They are both two beautiful role models that pale skin is beautiful.
Here is what I am committing myself to:
- Absolutely no tanning beds. Zilch. Nadda. None.
- No Self-tanner. WE DON’T NEED TO CHANGE OUR SKIN COLOUR.
- Don’t buy into the media hype that only tanned skin = beautiful. Beauty is what you were born with!
It is time that we as women start to challenge not just the focus on excessively thin ‘ideals’ in the media, but about our skin colour too.
Since the beginning of time, women have been told that we are not good enough the way we are. I am sick of it!
I hope you will join me in committing to my Love Your Skin Movement. As women, we have the power to influence trends with what we spend our money on. Stop endorsing it, buying it, and supporting things that make you feel that you are less of a women if you don’t do ‘X,Y,Z’.
Are you with me? 
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Do you feel the pressure to change the colour of your skin or to tan? Have you ever used tanning beds despite knowing that you shouldn’t?
{ 146 comments… read them below or add one }
Awesome post, Angela!!!!!
I’ve been an advocate for skin cancer awareness and safe skin practices (and also extremely pale for a Greek girl!) since my early university days.
My little skin-cancer awareness group on Facebook that I started a few years ago is 530+ ladies (and men!) and growing strong. I hope you all will join!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2503366285
I have always always ALWAYS felt pressure to be more tanned.
I have very very light skin. My whole family does, that’s how we were made!
We as a family get, not made fun of… but we get comments that we are extremely pale. My brother gets called “Oreo Cookie” because his hair is so dark and his skin so pale.
I would constantly get comments from people (not very nice people) who said things like “Get a tan” and “OMG your legs are so WHITE!”.
I never knew what to say. “I’m sorry?”… “This is the way I was born?”
In high school and university I was so insecure about my pale skin that I tanned a lot more than I should have. Outside… in tanning salons… with self tanner.
I was working so hard to cover up my skin because I thought everyone was looking at how pasty I was. I thought I couldn’t be AS attractive as I could be unless I was tanned.
But, when I was in Florida with my family a couple months ago a guy came up to me and said “Wow, your skin is so beautiful, it’s like porcelain”.
It was something I had never ever heard anyone say before. It almost made me cry. MY skin? Beautiful?
It was too bad it took some else to make me realize that I could be beautiful with lighter skin.
But now I know, this is the way I was made, and it’s not a bad thing! And if other people have a problem with it, then that’s THEIR problem.
After a long time, I am truly starting to feel comfortable in my own skin (literally
)
I am with you on the Love Your Skin Movement all the way!
Thanks Angela!
I wrote a similar post about this awhile ago and evaluated some self-tanners – check it out!
http://www.thedailybalance.com/2009/05/05/try-it-protecting-yourself-from-skin-cancer-doent-mean-you-have-to-be-pale/
Wow, I completely support this Angela!
Throughout high school, college and even a couple years after college I was an AVID tanner. I grew up in Massachusetts and the tanning beds seemed to really lift my spirits during the cold winter months (and I thought I looked better tan!) Then I went to college in Florida where I would tan any chance I got! I even had a work study job at the pool where I would lounge in between classes. I was ALWAYS tan, despite many warning from my aunt and other family members who have had melanomas removed. I had the “I won’t get skin cancer” mentality. It really sunk in this past year though, when I met a 23 year old woman who had a malignant melanoma removed from her nose. Her post surgery pictures really scared me. They did a skin graft from her forehead to replace the skin they removed from her nose and for 4 weeks following the procedure she had a pronounced skin flap that went from the top of her forehead to her nose. It was horrible. She is now left with a deep scar about 8 inches long on her face. Despite this she is a beautiful, strong and confident woman, very admirable!
Meeting her prompted me to go to the dermatogist and have moles and freckles looked at, I had one removed from my calf. The Dr. also showed me the sun damage and freckles that I have from my constant sunning. So I am on a string of chemical peels and may do an IPL (light treatment) to decrease additional damage. If I had known now, what I knew then I would be less freckled and have more money in my pocket!
Thanks again for posting this Ange, you rock!
oops I meant to say I wish I knew then what I know now. : )
Ladies: The only anti-wrinkle cream is SUNSCREEN!
I have been recently found out that I have stage one malignant melanoma. I have been staying out of the sun for years and wearing all the sunscreen I can stand. Being a green eyed redhead is no help!! Of course, I live in Las Vegas so staying out of the sun can be real tricky! Skin cancer can be so easily prevented. If we can convince just one young person to stay out of the stupid tanning booths ( yes they are all over Las Vegas!! ) and to wear sunscreen we could win out on this. All tanning gave me was more freckles! Prevention is the key and it is never too late to start early! Thanks for bringing this up!!
Great topic Angela! I also am fair by nature and have always been too scared of tanning salons to go to one! I’ve dabbled with the thought of self-tanners because I too bought into the notion that pale and dimply was esthetically unappealing. It is rather silly that we should deny our natural coloring and try to be something we’re not.
This topic could go on to a much broader range of ideas – including makeup (I know you’ve already covered this one), dying hair, body hair removal, etc.
So interesting hearing from all of you – thanks for starting this post, Angela! Like many others, I had a spot of melanoma removed at age 26. I was never a sun worshipper but was a bit of event tanner and am fair skinned. No more tanning – I’m now the sunscreen queen and proud of it!
I love this idea of being happily pale – go us!!
I agree with the sentiment of this post totally, I just want to point out that we do get a wonderful and necessary nutrient from sunlight- Vitamin D (which is actually a hormone). The best way to get it is through sunlight. 10-20 mins a day are good, and in winter Vitamin D3 (NOT D2) and cod liver oil for the Vit A will substitute.
There are many harmful chemicals in sunscreen that when absorbed through the skin daily are indeed toxic. Research natural mineral based sunscreen.
Preach it sista! So glad you touched on this subject. I too relate to so many other ladies thoughts on this and I too struggled for years with tanning and I’m only in my 20′s! I can proudly say that I haven’t been tanning in about a year now! Working on loving my light skin still, but I will get there!! xoxo
great post angela! What a great way to spread awareness for skin cancer. Its crucial we all realize how important sunscreen is! And how deadly tanning booths are!
That’s nothing. Some tanning salons around here are spinning a research study that says Vitamin D prevents breast cancer. They are spinning that study to say that tanning (indoor or out) can prevent breast cancer! There’s a huge billboard in my town saying indoor tanning can prevent breast cancer. I kept re-reading it thinking I was missing something. Upon investigation, I found out it was paid for by the local tanning salon. How irresponsible!!!!!!!!!
Wow! THis is a great post. In my younger days after losing a lot of weight I decided to tan so when I went to try on new swim suites I would feel better about myself. I thought I looked really good when I was all tan and skinny. But, every time I would lie there trying to relax I thought about how I was purposely injecting myself with cancer! I will never tan again and freak out when I am outside and exposed without sunscreen. I work near a University and walk right by a tanning salon on my way to and from work. It makes me so sad to see all the young people walking in.using the salon. I’ll be going au natural from now on!
Great post! I too in high school used to tan..all the time. Luckily by the time I was 17 I stopped forever. This summer I did cave in and get a spray-tan…and then hated it! I’ve learned to embrace my pale, yet healthy, skin!
I’m 100 percent in agreement with you Angela. I’m a red head and I’m as white as they come. I get all kinds of “whitey” and “pale” comments. It makes me insanely insecure (I’ve always wanted to know what it feels like to be tan for just one day) but I know that I’m better off for staying pale.
For anybody who still considers going to a tanning bed (and I’m shocked this hasn’t already been mentioned), back in July the World Health Organization moved tanning beds into the highest risk classification for cancer causing elements. Tanning beds now join a very illustrious group of carcinogens like tobacco smoke, the hepatitis B virus and mustard gas. If THAT doesn’t make you think twice, you need to shake your head.
I have heard this sentiment in my head, but have not been brave enough to say it out loud.
“When would I ever be good enough? When would I start to challenge how I felt about my skin without a tan and put an end to this ‘event’ tanning?’
I had to face the cold hard truth.
I was tanning to cover up my insecurities.”
I am glad that you have figured the psychology of this out at a younger age than I have. I still TOTALY struggle with all that your post conveys and I still feel the need to change my skin color with self-tanners (I do not tan anymore). I still hate my skin the way that it is naturally – how sad!
Thanks for this post, it is genius.
After reading this post and thinking about being the dark haired, fair skinned woman of Irish ancestry that I am – when someone says “Oh you’re so pale/white/fair/whatever,” I’m going to say “Oh thank you!! You know, someone people have to work at glowing, but it just comes naturally to me.”
I’m with ya girlfriend. I haven’t stepped back into a tanning bed for years. I hate feeling the pressure to look a certain shade of golden brown just to feel sexy or slim. Now don’t get me wrong….I’m all about getting some natural color while wearing my spf 45, but no more fake and bake for me! I tanned all through high school and worked at a salon in college where I tanned at least twice a week! Crazyness
Now I use the organic tanagement paraben free self tanner when I have to be in a dress or bathing suit, but I’ve sworn off keeping the color up just for normal life. Good call drawing attention to this. I know lots of “healthy” eaters and exercisers who still tan. I just remind myself it’s just as bad as smoking!
I noticed you didn’t say anything about tanning outside when you said you were going to give up tanning beds and not use spray.
I don’t think tanning outside is any better then a tanning bed.
I don’t tan period and think it is the best way to live.
Never been to a tanning bed or spayed any junk on my body. I have no idea why any one would. I guess it goes to show how little effect all the warnings have been. I think its sad that people either don’t get the warnings or ignor them to look tanned.
A tanned look is no longer considered a healthy look.
Cosmetics do have links to cancer. Deordorant for one has a very strong link to breast cancer.
You really have to look into things you put on or into your body. Everything has risk but some things/acts have a lot hight risk.
I think the best wording for this cause would be (Just say no to all tanning and spraying).
I don’t always put sunscrren on my feet if i’m out in sandles and only for a short time. Great ay to collect your D. No more then 10 minutes once a week or every 2 weeks.
I’m with you! I’ve actually never been a tanner. I am a pale girl who burns! If anyone laughs at my paleness when I go to the beach I just lather on sunscreen, put on my hat, and tell them that I am embracing the pale. I actually really like my skin and since people already think I’m younger than I am, I think I’ll be super happy I didn’t tan when I’m older.
I love your message here. Unfortunately I think self tanning, “smart” tanning, etc. will continue because if we didn’t think there was something wrong with us, and that there was a product to fix it, how would INSERT COMPANY HERE make money? boo on them!
Great post! I recently had a basal cell spot removed from my forehead, I cannot help but think of how I stupidly used tanning beds in high school and college for events. I am an event tanner too! Also when I was a kid, my mom could not keep me out of the water during the summers, so I had my fair share of sunburns too.
Now as a marathon runner, I lather up in sunscreen, wear a visor all the time and try to cover up as much as I can depending on the weather. It is so sad that businesses have to use such damaging messages to promote their services….but then again its a service that is just not good for you!
This is interesting. What you say is very true… in America, Canada, and presumably most of the “west”, but my roommate is a Korean student studying here in California for the year and we’ve had some interesting conversation. Her mom saw her after she had been here for the summer and said, “Oh my, you are going to be expensive when you get home!” To what was she referring? Lightening my roommate’s skin! Apparently, in Asia (or at least Korea) they have the same problem in the opposite direction. They are not happy with their natural color and strive to change it to conform to a societal standard of beauty. Granted, staying out of the sun is better long term for your skin’s health, but bleaching your skin?! My goodness, it really is a world-wide epidemic.
Great post! I too “event tanned” for my wedding… and you know what? The pictures didn’t even look that great and now the fine lines are starting to creep their way in. I spend a great deal of time outdoors for work and pleasure, and this post is a great reminder about the importance of being diligent with sunscreen… and being sensible about “beauty regimes” in general. Amen!
Great post Ange! Thank you so much for addressing this topic because it irks me like no other!! Especially here in Alaska, EVERYONE tans b/c of the lack of sunlight. And the women here give me crap about saying I won’t do it, and that I should because of lack of Vitamin D. What?!! They are crazy! But that’s how the tanning companies advertise here in the land of no sun. By encouraging people to get their Vitamin D through tanning. Go figure. My dermatologist last week told me Vit D supplements will work just fine.
Angela, this post is incredible. I tanned consistently for 10 years (I am only 25) and I can only imagine how much younger I could look had I not done this, never mind the risk of skin cancer. I really struggle with feeling insecure when I am “pale” especially with my dark hair and eyes. Thank you so much for this reminder!
This is such a good post. I have “unconsciously” given up tanning beds. I would always go tanning in the spring or the dead of winter to “liven” up my skin. Once I began Bikram Yoga i didnt feel good going to tanning beds anymore. I would say that I needed to go tanning, but then not feel like going. Im not sure if the yoga had something to do with that. Whatever made me stop going, im glad!
Someone from my high school just died from skin cancer. You can’t mess around with that tanning stuff – it’s SO pointless. This goes hand in hand with Operation Beautiful – we are ENOUGH just as we are!!
This is a fantastic post! I have also tanned for certain events to try and look ‘my best’. But, as you said, how does this make me look any better than I did before? How did I buy into someone letting me think that doing this to my skin was looking my best?! It happens to most of us though, but we are beautiful just as we are!! Great post
This is such a struggle for me! I can talk for HOURS about the importance of taking care of my body. Only natural things in, ample exercise, no chemicals in my makeup and body products…but come summertime, a wedding, etc…where am I? Just signing up for cancer! It is so engrained that tan is beautiful, and it is, NOW, but the after effects are beyond ugly. I would rather be pasty and glowing forever than temporarily tan and sick later, thank youuuuu!
I tanned in a tanning bed for years…ten to be exact. My mom has had skin cancer so I of course decided to say goodbye to the tanning bed. Unfortunately, I already have the signs of the sun on my face. I am only 24 and I have the beginnings of age spots and “crow’s feet”. However, I do like the way I look with more color. It’s not about what anyone else thinks. I just like the way my hair and eyes look against a little more pigment. So, I have ordered an earth friendly, chemical free sunless tanner online. I should recieve it soon. I have no shame in using it because I know it’s for me and no one else.
Yes! This was wonderful. I have never been to a tanning salon, and I stopped trying to tan in the sun years ago because my skin just doesn’t tan very well/evenly, and I realized I was better off without it. Now I am SPF 30′s number one fan and promoter
. I also hate the brainwashing that goes on, particularly the notion that getting a “base tan” is safe and will protect your skin. Any exposure = potential damage… simple as that.
Completely agreed! My dad has had both a malignant melanoma and a squamus cell mole removed though, so it hits a bit closer to home for me. He’s fine these days but I won’t be surprised if more unpleasant moles turn up in the future :/
Hi Angela,
I LOVE your blog! I start my morning with it everyday almost Ha ha! Your post reminded me of my little sister. She was 15 and a prominent cheerleader when she bucked the fake bake trend in high school. All her friends used to tease her for being so pale and she would always say “well good luck getting rid of those wrinkles one day.” To this day she is proudly pale and works on T.V no less! I used to fake bake for events like you but I stopped when I was 24. It is not worth it and all I have to do is look at all of these poor people with bad sun damage and I realize it is not worth it to be tan. My only gripe is that the veins on the back of my legs are so visable so I am a little embarassed to wear skirts…..anyone have any solutions????
I too did the tanning beds when I was younger…not a great idea. When I was 31 I was diagnosed with skin cancer, Melanoma the worst kind you could possibly get. It was on my back and I spotted it one day. I was REALLY lucky and spotted it early enough that once I was treated my outlook was great.
That was 7 years ago. Ever since then I slather on the sun screen, wear big floppy hats and cloths that have SPF in the fabric when I now that I am going to be in the sun for a long period of time. I LOVE my white skin and have gotten used to it. Don’t get me wrong I still love being in the sun and enjoying a hot vacation I just do it with caution.
It is so not worth it to sucum to the pressures of “needing” to have color on your skin. I don’t do the fake stuff either.
This was such a good topic to post on your blog Angela, because skin cancer tends to hit women in their late 20′s and 30′s and it is always good to be aware of your skin!
I wholeheartedly agree! At 26 I had a strange spot show up on my leg. I watched it for a long time and finally asked my doctor about it. She said it needed to come off. She removed it and – guess what! It was the stuff that turns into melanoma. I couldn’t believe it. And she didn’t even take enough so I had to have my leg cut on again! The spot was actually quite small but I ended up with seven stitches and now have an inch long scar. I have no doubt it was from tanning and refusing to wear enough sunscreen. I have definitely learned my lesson!
I don’t normally comment but I back your post 100%. My grandfather died of skin cancer last year. He was in so much pain and to see him that way was heartbreaking. My grandfather developed skin cancer from just being outside, traveling and living life. Obviously, growing up in Vietnam, there was no such thing as sunscreen for my grandfather. Imagine how we all can protect ourselves today! We have all these options yet so many people choose to bake, bake, bake. Anyone who reads this…please, please wear sunscreen and don’t worry about your skin tone. You look beautiful the way (color) you are!
Lots of education needed in here.
http://www.uvtalk.com is a good place to start.
This one made me smile. The “educational” website especially.
I’ll bet dollars to donuts you work in the tanning industry and have a vested interest in promoting the use of devices such as tanning beds ’cause somehow I just don’t buy it that your life’s mission is to ensure that all of the young women of the world have enough Vitamin “D”.
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