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Why do people tan?

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I don't think we should turn this into an argument.

We all know excessive UV exposure can cause skin cancer. The question is, do you choose to let that information affect your desicion to tan, or not? We all do things that are bad for us (drugs, drink, tan, eat junk food, smoke, etc.) so I don't think it's fair for anyone to point a finger at anyone else. I personally do not tan because given my family history (dad died of melanoma, all of his siblings have also gotten less severe skin cancer at some point) it would be playing with fire.
 
It really depends where you live. each part of the world has different amounts of UV light, but id say its safe to say, if you are going beyond a light tan then its becoming detrimental to your health. Oh and lets not forget theres more than just one way to get vitamin D, theres foods that have it aswell. You can buy milk with it, and certain fishes have it aswell as cheese and egg's. Its not like our ONLY way of getting vitamin D is through sunlight.
 
moonyham said:
It really depends where you live. each part of the world has different amounts of UV light, but id say its safe to say, if you are going beyond a light tan then its becoming detrimental to your health. Oh and lets not forget theres more than just one way to get vitamin D, theres foods that have it aswell. You can buy milk with it, and certain fishes have it aswell as cheese and egg's. Its not like our ONLY way of getting vitamin D is through sunlight.
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It's unhealthy to consume the amount of dairy required to get even the US FDA recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D. Sockeye salmon and other oily fish and fish livers contain Vitamin D in sufficient amounts if you eat these fish as a dietary staple. Otherwise, you need sunlight or Vitamin D supplements like cod liver oil capsules or you're most likely going to be suffering from long term undiagnosed subclinical Vitamin D deficiency. This is a cancer risk.
 
How much sunlight do you actually think you need to get enough vitamin D? I mean, in places like england there isnt heaps of people dieing from cancer, where tan's are pretty uncommon, so i dought you need much sunlight to function and live healthily. At the end of the day, as long as you are going outside daily, and getting SOME sunlight, then your gonna be all good.
 
England has some of the highest cancer rates in the world and some of the unhealthiest people their side of the Atlantic.

15 minutes of FULL BODY exposure and little to no existing tan or sunscreen will get a white person approximately 1000 IU during mid-day. This is closer to what I consider to be a more reasonable daily dose than the RDA of 200 or 400 IU. If you are only exposing your forearms and face, I can't imagine you're getting much Vitamin D even in an hour outdoors. Just barely enough that you're keeping your bones alive.
 
LOL that is so ridiculous. Barely keeping your bones alive? Pffft, i have never broken a bone and ive done some pretty crazy shit and i dont get that much sunlight, i wear hoodies all the time and pants too.
 
moonyham said:
LOL that is so ridiculous. Barely keeping your bones alive? Pffft, i have never broken a bone and ive done some pretty crazy shit and i dont get that much sunlight, i wear hoodies all the time and pants too.
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Vitamin D deficiency isn't going to lead to brittle bones while you're young. Come back when you're 80 and repeat this.
 
Meh, if it isnt going to effect me till im 80 who cares? Id rather live to 80 and have weak bones than live to 40 and die of melanoma.
 
First of all, why would you just assume that everyone who tans becomes pink and freckly? I have slightly olive tinted skin so when I tan I become golden and majestic ;) not pink or freckly or gross. No but seriously, OBVIOUSLY people tan because they don't want to be pale, and they want to be tan. Everyone is not you.

P.s. People, go plant a fuckin tree or save a baby orangutan or some shit, stop worrying about people getting skin cancer because they want to feel cute. Essentially everything can give you some form of cancer shit so we're all pretty fucked, worry about your relationship with your family and God and yourself and get the stick out of your ass about cancer and people you don't even know. Anyone have an E-grenade?
 
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I only tan when I'm outside for long periods of time.

Seems to me that people who tan religiously or spray tan for cosmetic reasons are just trying to look like the other sheep.

But to each his own
 
Well, the only reasons that I personally bring up things like skin cancer is just to warn people, not to judge them. A lot of people just don't take it seriously, or don't know much about it, because it's not that common. I would hate for anyone on here to get any type of cancer, so it's only out of love <3

I do use self-tanning lotion like once every other day just to get a subtle bronze so I don't look like a ghost.. but no, im not like a bright orange, overly tan "follower" (although I know the type who are, I think we all do). I think used in moderation, self-tanners can look good as long as you are careful about steaks and orange palms (yuck! :p )
 
Its not just skin cancer lol.. you look haggad and disgusting if you tan your whole life when you start getting a bit older.. it looks good when your 21 and stuff but come 35 or what ever your skin aint gonna be too good.

At the end of the day, having a tan is fine, but way to many people over-tan.
 
moonyham said:
Oh ok, as long as it helps your superficial self and the self esteem that goes with it, i guess its worth the permanent damage it does to you. :\
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I don't see why people have to be so negative. It helps me, makes me happy..who is t say what I should or should not getwith my own body? I am aware of the risks, so I'm tried of hearding the BL lecture 18 million times.
 
ThaiDie4 said:
I don't think we should turn this into an argument.

We all know excessive UV exposure can cause skin cancer. The question is, do you choose to let that information affect your desicion to tan, or not? We all do things that are bad for us (drugs, drink, tan, eat junk food, smoke, etc.) so I don't think it's fair for anyone to point a finger at anyone else. I personally do not tan because given my family history (dad died of melanoma, all of his siblings have also gotten less severe skin cancer at some point) it would be playing with fire.
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Amen, at least I'm a non-smoker...
 
Finishing the thread, I think people take their personal choice not to tan as a way to judge people, "You're stupid, you shouldn't do that, aren't you aware of the risks? You will look like crap when you are older." Ok, this board has a LOT of drug users who do a lot worse to their own bodies than tan, so I don't see why everyone has to get all judgemental about it. Also, I HATE being outside. I'm a very indoor person and it is very rare, even in the summer I go out I am normally very pale and I'm sure lacking in vitamin D. But thats not why I do it. It gives the impression of a more toned body (or why would body builders do the bad fake tan, tight?) Which allows me to see myself as not fat or repulsive, again self-esteem and eat to a place to where I can be at a healthy weight. I feel better about myself and more self-confident. With dark hair and eyes, and never going out, I always look well, a lil like I was being goth or something. lol I think that it does me some good, and so I CHOOSE to do it for those reasons. I am well aware of the risks of skin cancer and premature aging and all the shit that we didn't know about in the 70s...but in the end. Like drug use or any other potentially dangerous activity, it is a choice and one shouldn't pass judgement on what other people choose to do with their own bodies, after all, they aren't in mine...
That is my last bit on this topic, I won't spend pages defending my own personal choice here. There are lot worse things is the world.
 
Pale, untanned skin looks good on white people... But as for us biracial brown-skinned people, we look sickly after a long winter with no sun... and that is why I tan. Plus I need more sunlight for health reasons (darker skin = more melanin = less Vit D). I seriously think I have a Vitamin D deficiency after moving to europe....
 
Overly ANYTHINGing is stupid and unneccesary, but why do you even care why people like to tan? Some people like to tan and they look nice, some people like to tan and they look ridiculous, some people like to be pale and look good, and some people like to be pale and look like stupid ass gothtards or like they have cancer. Skin cancer sucks, but so does not doing what you really want to do...and if that's tanning THROW ON THE OIL AND GO LAY OUT, SISTA/BROTHA. Semantics semantics semantics, jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
 
^^ lol don't worry girl, I'm just being silly because I find this thread ridiculous. In a funny way. And I'm hopped up on caffiene! I'm not addressing anyone in particular, just sayin. Don't take me seriously! I love all BLers equally, even the ones who think I'm dumb for laying by the pool ;P happy easterrrrrr
 
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