AIBU to feel really happy due to having a suntan?

[SighingandYawning]

I just do, when I catch sight of my tanned skin I feel on top of the world. I know it's bad for you blah blah blah and it's probably social conditioning, and I'm already fat, haggard and wrinkled enough without making it worse.

[Rovinja]

YANBU but there's more at risk than wrinkles if you tan!

[UrethraFranklin1]

I don't get why being a bit more orangey brown makes anyone happy, but whatever floats your boat.
Just don't bang on about it to pale people and tell them they are pasty or ghostlike etc, its really fucking irritating.

[BeautifulBatman]

Yanbu. I loved being tanned. I'm not now though, even though I live in the ME. Part health concious/part vanity/part can't be arsed. I'm naturally v pale skinned. I burn easily too so have to go really slow and steady to build up any colour. When I was a little younger I had the patience for it but not now. Sunbathing in 45+ is not nice, I'm 40 years old and cannot rely on youth to keep my skin nice and I don't want melanoma. I think I'll stick with pale and interesting now so I don't look like am old leather sofa later in life.

[PoppyPopTart]

I know it's bad for you blah blah blah

Op, you sound very laid back about the dangers of sun damage. It shouldn't be taken lightly.

[IAmACat]

YANBU. I think people are very over the top about tanning. I wouldn't deliberately sunbathe but I always get a slight tan just from daily exposure.

[SighingandYawning]

Urethra I don't do that honestly, in fact having a tan is really rare for me, most of the time I'm pale too. And Poppy, I'm not laid back, I'm scared witless really!

[MaidOfStars]

I feel miles better with a tan. Maybe not a uniform brown colour - that looks a bit odd on me - but definitely the shoulders/nose/cheekbones colouring!

[Figster]

Each to their own I like being white I actually find a tan makes me look fatter.

I'm just back from a week abroad where I was surrounded by people who looked either bright red like tomatoes or like old leather handbags there is nothing attractive about either.

[beachdays]

Growing up in the frozen North, I've always been pale to the point of blue, and used to envy tanned people on holiday etc and feel a bit inadequate. Now I'm nearly 50 and am really happy that I have fabulous undamaged, wrinkle-free skin . Oh, and as I've also had cancer I can't believe stupid people still put themselves at risk of melanoma just to get a bit brown.

[Sansarya]

With the advances in fake tans these days there's really no need for a real one. A spray tan can look just as good as the real thing. As long as you don't go overboard!

[IslaMann]

That's great OP.

Just hope you feel as happy when you look at your skin with craters and skin grafts following an operation for skin cancer.

[bodenbiscuit]

I saw my friend yesterday and she had a beautiful, golden tan. I'm really white but would never sunbathe because of the damaging effects on the skin. But it does look lovely.

[Fluffyears]

I Look great with a tan but I would stick to a bottle version nowadays. Been badly burnt a few times in last 10 years (me being daft thinking I'm in Scotland so won't burn) and can see sun damage on my forehead and shoulders. I used to tan really easily but not nowadays so I protect my skin and get sprayed.

[HaydeeofMonteCristo]

I love being tanned. I have olive skin that looks really sallow in winter, and improves so much with a tan. I tan really slowly and an always careful with sun cream.

However I agree that we are being u because a tan is actually a sign of sun damage.

[N0vemberRain]

I feel just as happy with a coat or two of Dove tan on.

As for the real deal, I'm more of the 'slaps on factor 30 just to put the rubbish out' type.

[Ifiwasabadger]

YANBU having a tan is fabulous.

But, it should come from a can, not the sun

[limitedperiodonly]

I feel happy having a tan OP. It has to be from the sun or sun booths.

Fake tan stinks and doesn't look good so I would prefer to be pale rather than use it.

[HaydeeofMonteCristo]

I have used that self tanning stuff before and it is good.

[Methe]

I'd have to stay inside from March to October to avoid gettinga tan!

[CrohnicallyAspie]

I'm mixed race, have olive skin tone and look awful without a tan. However, I don't deliberately sunbathe, wear factor 50 if I'm going to be out between 10 and 4 (even though I don't visibly burn when I don't wear it) and a hat, and still pick up a tan within 5 minutes of walking out the door.

[FirstWeTakeManhattan]

YANBU to feel good OP, glad you feel good about yourself.

For me though, I'm not at all bothered about tanning. I find the 'I've Just Been On Holiday!!!' look a bit undesirable to be honest.

My dream look is copper-coloured hair, very pale skin and freckles!

[Branleuse]

I quite like having a bit of a tan too. Makes me feel summery

[5madthings]

Yanbu, I have a nice tan at the moment, naturally olive skinned and tan very easily, have just spent two weeks in South of France, we slathered on factor 50 and I still tanned. I don't burn and actually the sun/heat suits my skin type, my eczema has totally vanished, literally within a few days of being out in the sun.

So I know it has risks but the benefits of not being covered with eczema, unable to sleep due to itching and skin getting scarred from eczema mean I like a bit of sun.

[hopperglove]

I love a tan.

Although I am Caucasian- Irish Scottish, I have naturally dark colouring, hair/eyes and tan very easily.
I rarely burn.

Skin cancer is a risk, but I do think natural skin tones play a big part in that risk.
My mother has been treated for skin cancer, her skin is very very pale, never tans, blonde almost white hair and the palest of blue eyes.
I am glad I have my father's colouring. My kids are dark too.