# Dear Prunefaces: No, I do not NEED a tan! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 20, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323 "2005-04-20T22:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/41 "2005-04-21T04:18:45Z")
> [@Ferret Herder](#): > > A guy who used to be my boss died of skin cancer, malignant melanoma IIRC. He was a doctor. He was born in South America, and spent a couple months there every year, getting a deep tan each visit. Ahh yes, the wonders of that thing, remember?, the ozone layer hole? You know the Sun is spicy when you can get a tan that lasts 5 years. In 1998 I went to Santiago de Chile and had to spend a long, hot, sunny day on a nearly desertic location; I got a horrible burn on my legs, there was a clear, very visible band of fiery redness from the socks line to the shorts thigh line. It lasted 5 years, 5 years of tanned legs and white feet; I was quite worried that it would be permanent. Needless to say I try to wear as much light clothing as possible in the summer, the Sun here is, literally, murderous. And then I see people grilling themselves on the beach and I can´t understand it, giving your life for vanity, its pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/42 "2005-04-21T04:54:53Z")
> [@Marlitharn](#): > > Tanning is not like other self-destructive behaviors; it’s not addictive like smoking[…] I remember a while back (year or two) seeing a piece on the local news that young women were, in fact, addicted to tanning. It featured the darkest white chick I’ve ever seen whining about how she never should have been allowed to go to the tanning salon in the first place (agreed) and now she just couldn’t stop, even during the winter months, and, please parents, whatever you do, don’t let your kids tan! I wanted to slap her mother who was all, “I didn’t think it was a big deal!” Whatever, lady. I ranted about this very thing back in 2000, but I can’t seem to find the thread. I don’t really get harassed about it these days (mostly because I don’t have a job anymore, or go to school, or talk to anyone…), except by my sister. We’ll see who looks better in 20 years, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![VampyChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5daacb/32.png) [@VampyChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VampyChick)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/43 "2005-04-21T05:00:22Z")
I like being pale, and I don’t mind most of the commentary, but here’s what drives me insane. “Oooh, you’re so _pale_! You need to get some more color before you show those legs!” How the _hell_ am I supposed to reach their appropriate standards of tan if I’m not supposed to show skin until I’m dark? The tanning bed costs money! Wearing shorts is free! (Provided, of course, you already own the shorts.) ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/44 "2005-04-21T05:07:44Z")
Oh, found [it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=31876). I was Silver\_Fire back then. Fucking underscores. :smack: And a few cites re: [tanning](http://www.hon.ch/News/HSN/519998.html) [booth](http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=519998) [addiction](http://www.currentsauce.com/news/2005/02/17/Le/Turning.Up.The.Heat-868251.shtml). ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/45 "2005-04-21T05:11:24Z")
Oops, the first two articles are identical. I’m going to bed now. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/46 "2005-04-21T05:19:13Z")
I remember as a child at our local pool (I will say that I will NOT give up going swimming-I’ll wear sunscreen and stay in the shade as much as possible), watching this woman walk in. She had to be in her thirties, most likely, and she had a deep, dark tan. However, her skin looked like an old, wrinkled piece of leather after it had been left out in the rain. And then she proceeded to sit down on a chaise lounge and slather herself with baby oil. Yuck yuck yuck. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/47 "2005-04-21T05:51:48Z")
Geez, since when did the sun become some kind of boogeyman? Folks are disgusted at those who would expose themselves to sunlight out of vanity, but they are staying out of the sun for the same reason-vanity. My brother and I tan extremely easily. Now, we don’t go out of our way to tan, it is just a by-product of working outside. In my family, smoking was a far greater cause of premature aging than sunlight ever was. I am out in the sun every day and people still think I’m 6 years younger than I really am. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/48 "2005-04-21T05:57:22Z")
I hardly think that not wishing to develop skin cancer qualifies as vanity. The aesthetic aspect is secondary, at least in my case. ---
**Author:** ![Ink\_a\_dink\_a\_dink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ec9cab/32.png) [@Ink\_a\_dink\_a\_dink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ink_a_dink_a_dink)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/49 "2005-04-21T06:10:41Z")
As a child, I turned chestnut brown easily. Then in my teens, I burned myself so badly, I developed blood blisters. Still wanted to try and tan, but…after I discoverd some skin cancer (not caused by sun exposure) earlier this year, it’s docotr recommended that I wear no less than SPF40 and a hat. Kinda nice to be an “enforced” Goth. It was all I wanted when younger…now, I guess I’ll live with it. Although I liked the sentiment “I’m porcelain white”. Respectfully, Inky ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/50 "2005-04-21T08:18:33Z")
> [@Silver Fire](#): > > And a few cites re: [tanning](http://www.hon.ch/News/HSN/519998.html) [booth](http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=519998) [addiction](http://www.currentsauce.com/news/2005/02/17/Le/Turning.Up.The.Heat-868251.shtml). Well, I’ll be darned. How come everything that’s bad for us makes us feel really really good? ---
**Author:** ![Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/51 "2005-04-21T09:30:38Z")
I wasn’t a pale kid and tanned very easily. When I was 12 though I had to visit a skin-doctor, because of some very strange moles. I have had surgery twice and have about 25 little round scars on my back. Since then I have been very careful and use SPF 50 at least when I go out into the sun. My brother also developed some melanomas, so it probably runs in the family. By the way : I prefer an alabaster skinned girl to a tanned, wrinkled one. Also pale girls hardly have tan-lines. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/52 "2005-04-21T09:35:13Z")
> [@FaerieBeth](#): > > :: deep breath :: I’m better now, and since I got this out of my system here, I’ll never have to be as rude as you ladies are. Now, I can continue to smile and brush off your insensitive, too familiar comments. I hear you. I have the tan enhanced commenting on my über caucasian skin at times. Luckily my glow in the dark middle finger silences them. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/53 "2005-04-21T10:55:28Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > Folks are disgusted at those who would expose themselves to sunlight out of vanity, but they are staying out of the sun for the same reason-vanity. > > My brother and I tan extremely easily. Now, we don’t go out of our way to tan, it is just a by-product of working outside. In my family, smoking was a far greater cause of premature aging than sunlight ever was. I am out in the sun every day and people still think I’m 6 years younger than I really am. 😛 Then be happy for your good genetics, but don’t disparage all of us sun-avoiders in the process. I’m staying out of the sun to avoid further encouragement of more precancerous lesions, which will either leave scary scars upon their removal, or progress past precancerous if I don’t notice the changes. Screw vanity. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/54 "2005-04-21T12:17:51Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > Geez, since when did the sun become some kind of boogeyman? > > Folks are disgusted at those who would expose themselves to sunlight out of vanity, but they are staying out of the sun for the same reason-vanity. Yes, how vain to try not to get a deadly cancer developed… :rolleyes: UV radiation levels are much higer than in the past, specially here in the South; in summer the weather forecast includes information about the ozone layer condition and radiation levels. This is very serious, skin cancer rates have increased over the years; I don´t see what´s vain about avoiding dangerous exposition to the Sun. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/55 "2005-04-21T12:31:05Z")
> [@Ooner](#): > > There’s nothing wrong with a little color. > > It’s not always completely white vs. dried up and leathery you guys. Every tan means a significant increase in your risk of skin cancer. It’s a protective response to prevent damage from UV rays, and its activation demonstrates that the damage has already begun occurring. I don’t even tend to notice when people have a tan (except with those folks who tan so excessively that they turn unnatural colors.) I do notice that there’s plenty of girls my age who have visible sun damage on their faces. I’m 21; it’s way too early to be developing wrinkles. Virtually everyone I’ve ever known who deliberately tanned had visible sun damage, and most of them seem to be completely unaware of it. It’s rather funny in a pathetic sort of way to see someone extolling her tan when her skin has already begun to get that leathery look. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/56 "2005-04-21T12:45:39Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > \ I’m the only person I know that can get a burn wearing SPF 50 in April. Not anymore. 😃 I rock SPF 50 like birds rock feathers. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/57 "2005-04-21T14:16:52Z")
I’m incredibly pale and I like it. I had an uncle who had fair skin like me spend his entire life farming and gardening. He got skin cancer which spread to his bones and he died about three months after being diagnosed. He was only 51. Now I’ve become uber-paranoid about the sun and wear sunscreen everyday. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/58 "2005-04-21T14:43:11Z")
I baked myself when I was a teenager and hated every minute of it. It was hot outside, too bright to read or sleep, and what if someone saw me? I’m delighted to have given up all that fun. Now I recoil from sunlight like a slug from salt. The other day I was helping my brother do something in the yard, but only so long as I could stay in the shadow of the house. He looked at me (as I retreated into my protective veil of long hair) and asked, “Why do you want to look dead?” “Leather” would be a _kind_ thing to say about his skin, and he’s a year younger than me. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/59 "2005-04-21T14:45:46Z")
A public service message for all the Alabaster skinned Wimmins: Cover yourself with an [B[Unclviny\*\* as often as possible. Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323/60 "2005-04-21T15:02:10Z")
_I like dark tans and I can not lie You other brothers can’t deny That when a girl walks in with an itty bitty string And a those tan things in your face You get sprung…_ 😃 \ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-prunefaces-no-i-do-not-need-a-tan/300323.md?page=4)