While many enjoy the shine of tanning and its aesthetic, they don’t know the hidden dangers of it, at some point it becomes a health concern.
People need to minimize tanning due to the harmful effects on the body. Tanning comes with lots of potential side effects like skin cancer, premature aging, poor immune system and repression. To decrease future health issues people should avoid high UV exposure or direct sunlight. Despite these dangers to healthy skin, many people decide they want to get tanner during the summer for aesthetic reasons and a higher confidence boost. Freshman Octavia Schelgel said, “I love tanning but you can get skin cancer and many health risks which we should be aware of.” While many individuals try to avoid some of the health risks by using a tanning lotion or spray. Both natural sunlight and artificial sources can lead to serious health issues.
Implementing limits on tanning is important due to the significant health risks with ultraviolet exposure. Both indoor and outdoor tanning have the same damages. As the Harvard Health Medical School reported, “Sun exposure or spending time in tanning booths has many health experts worried: it damages skin and increases the risk of skin cancer.” Harvard Medical School also explained, “A blistering sunburn can nearly double one’s lifetime risk of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.” The skin cancer that results from too much sun exposure is extremely harmful and many young children don’t know the dangers.Children tend to look towards social media and beauty standards which can pressure young individuals into tanning for appearance reasons.
On the other hand, some kids say they enjoy their time out in the sun while increasing their vitamin D production, and the perceived appearance value of a tan. Individuals often like going to the beach and laying down a towel, facing towards the sun to achieve a darker complexion. Tanning could also potentially increase people’s overall mood and decrease stress levels but people should be aware and it’s crucial to prioritize skin health. Schlegel said, “Even though it is fun to get results and look good, it’s important for your skin’s health to be good as well.” Often, students may say that if they aren’t in the sun directly too long they might not get any of the side effects, but i’d say otherwise, it doesn’t matter how long you are tanning, students are still getting hit with UV rays causing damage to themselves. Similar to how parents are often cautious when their kids are starting to drive, the kids can be stubborn and deny the dangers of being warned since it doesn’t happen often but there’s always a slight chance it could happen.
In the end, while the desire to look sun-kissed and pretty for summer is high, is it really worth your health? It might seem very harmless but the risks associated with it, whether that’s from the natural sun or artificial tanning, are far too serious to ignore. From skin cancer to permanent skin damage, the consequences can be life-changing. Tanned skin can feel good or look appealing in the moment; yet, the long-term health effects aren’t worth it. As a younger generation, we need to make good choices, spread awareness, and prioritize health over temporary trends. We need to take tanning seriously, not as a beauty hack, but as a health hazard.
