Tanning's Not Trendy

by Donna Milligan
^{(creative writers at www.morewriting.co.uk)}
My friend Jennifer used to be the most beautiful girl in town. We were all envious of her long blonde hair and golden tan. She always looked as though she’d stepped off a Californian beach, which was uncanny seeing as we lived in Norwich. Anyway, she was just one of those girls who always looked amazing, with a killer smile and a figure to die for.

I knew there was no point whatsoever in me even trying to obtain a sunkissed glow like Jennifer’s. Being a redhead, if I spent too much time outside on a hot summer’s day, I’d burn and end up red all over. I did this twice before realising I was better off covering up, wearing loose baggy clothing and a wide-brimmed hat as well as plenty of sunscreen.

So as she strode along in hotpants and a cropped top, her golden pins the object of every guy’s attention, I plodded behind, almost fully covered with a hat, sunglasses and white cream smeared over my face. I did have moments of envy, but most of the time I liked the fact that I could make fun of myself and make jokes about being ‘the beach babe’.

Sometimes people would ask her how she was always so brown, and Jennifer would share some of her tanning tactics. I'll never forget the day she told one girl in our class, Erica, about her baby oil trick. Poor Erica went off and spent all Saturday frying herself in her back garden, only to turn up to school on Monday as red as a tomato! I also remember Jennifer subscribing to courses of sunbeds, spending almost all the money she earned in her Saturday job at the local store.

I don’t think we were so well-educated back then about the damage the sun can do. Nowadays, my children know all too well that they should stay out of the sun between 12pm and 3pm in the summer months (I’ve taught them well), and at any time of year in hotter countries – although we’re not overly keen on sunbathing at all and tend to go on different types of holidays, such as sightseeing in New York and Tokyo.

Anyway, I digress. Everyone knows you have to use sun cream now to avoid sunburn, and of course the longer-term effects like premature aging. A tan may seem tempting when you're young but brown spots and wrinkles don't look too hot, and you might see them sooner than you think if you don't look after your skin! Then there's the awful threat of skin cancer: quite tellingly, melanoma is more common in Caucasion populations living in sunny climates.

Sunburn itself though is anything but pleasant. The UV rays are harsh, and you get an all-over burn that stings like mad. Not everybody knows that you’re supposed to use at least factor 15, though. I still see people with lower factor sunscreens and wish I could tell them it’s not a high enough level of protection. You’re also supposed to apply it 20-30 minutes before going out into the sun, and reapply every two to three hours and after a swim. Sunbeds aren't good for you either, as you're fully exposed to the same UV rays in a more intense session.

Jennifer and I are still good friends, and she has children of her own. Luckily, she’s fit and healthy and fingers crossed her sunworshipping days haven’t affected her wellbeing. She’s adapted to my way of thinking, though, and now says there’s no such thing as a healthy tan. She is, however, a big fan of those self-tanning lotions!

She’s always telling me how smooth and youthful my skin looks. She’s certain that her wrinkles are a direct result of her love of the sun in her younger days. Not wanting to brag or anything, but it makes those days of covering up worthwhile knowing that as well as avoiding painful sunburn, I might’ve invested in my skin’s future.