The Pros and Cons of Tanning
Beverly Burroughs | Staff Writer/Cartoonist
3/08/02
As Spring Break approaches, it seems there is one question on peoples'
minds: why do people go tanning? Looking at the positives of tanning, one
might be able to understand, but what about all those negative aspects
that go along with tanning? Do people who tan realize the danger involved?
It seems when a girl, or some cases, guys, go tanning, he or she has only
one thought processing - a nice golden glow to their skin. They might not
know the consequences involved, but could give a list of the positive
aspects. Some people feel tanning is very relaxing while in some cases
people may get claustrophobia by being in a closed “coffin.” Another
positive aspect of tanning beds is the idea of the whole body tan. Only
those who are not modest about their bodies can receive a whole body tan
by sunlight.
“I go to the tanning
bed so I don’t burn in the real sunlight; it gives me a nice base to start
with. I don’t go often, just twice a week to keep my tan,” an RU junior said. Tanning beds
are also easy to find and very convenient. Think about it: a rainy day,
no sun in sight; the only choice one has is to tan in a tanning bed or go
without. One of the main reasons I think that girls go tanning is because
of self-esteem. In the world today, a nice golden-bronze tan on a woman
(or man) is very appealing to the opposite sex.
So why not tan in a
tanning bed? Well, here’s why!
Tanning not only can cause instant sunburn and discomfort, but also can
cause dry, flaky, and itchy skin. There are methods to relieve and
eventually heal these problems such as aloe vera, lotion, etc. The
problems that are long term are what people who go tanning need to
consider. When someone constantly tans, he or she may develop any type of
skin disease such as eczema or skin cancer (melanoma), to which there
could be no cure. Another long-term effect from tanning is leathery skin as you age. "That is what
turns me off the most about tanning, the way your skin looks all leathery
as you get older,” a Virginia Tech sophomore said.
So the question is - Is tanning worth it now,
considering what might happen to your skin later on in life? Only you can
decide that.
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