to be upset at this remark?

[Fightlikeagirl]

On the school run today one of the dads says to me "You're looking very white Fight, did you not go out in the sun over the weekend?"
I told him that I'm always pale as I burn so wear a high factor cream and then walked home to cry!
Silly I know and completely over sensitive but being pale is something I'm really conscious about.
I used to use sunbeds a lot when I was younger but now I would never risk my health by having anymore.
I wish I had come back with a smart remark like "I've have had cancer once before, I'm in no hurry to risk getting it again!"
I could fake tan which I sometimes do for a wedding or special occasion but its not something I want all the time.
It's not the first time people have commented on my pake skin colour, why do people think this is acceptable? I wish I could be pale and proud!

I also think you need to work on being more comfortable with your pale skin. If you are comfortable with yourself then other people can be as rude or as careless as they like, but you just think "what a twat" rather than letting it upset you.

I am naturally very pale and am now perfectly happy with my skin tone. Not being bothered about tanning has many advantages - you don't have to worry about tan lines; you can enjoy being outside and doing things in hot weather without having to lie there baking yourself and getting an even colour; if you are hot you can go and sit in the shade rather than feeling obligated not to miss out on tanning time.

And the best one - a couple of weeks ago a stranger had to guess my age (to call an ambulance, it's a long story) and guessed that I was 10 years younger than I am!

I can't see the point in fake tabs either - why would anyone want to paint themselves in chemical dies, when they have a perfectly nice skin tone in the first place?

"Anyone who says they don't get why your upset doesn't understand how hurtful it is when people go on about being pale. "

I am very pale. Sometimes people comment on it. The dad's comment wouldn't have bothered me at all. He was just making conversation.

I'm a redhead who's been slathered in wearing sunblock since I was a baby - I'm 39 and I regularly get mistaken for late 20s. (preens) Suncream is your friend!

I wouldn't take offence at it at all. I was once approached at the Grand Canyon by two women who said "You must be Irish" When I asked why, they said that only an Irish person would be that white . I just laughed it off.

My answer to people who comment on how pale I am is to tell them that I have to regularly moonbathe to keep so nice and pale

Sorry you were upset. I'm also very pale but comments about it don't bother me. When I was younger I did long for a tan but I'm much more accepting of the fact that that's just not me.

magicstar1
moonbathing is pure genius!

and will be quoted as necessary, thanks!

It doesn't sound like he was being rude he probably didnt mean for you to get upset. People say i look pale but i dont take it too heart.

I am a redhead, pale and come out in hives in the sun.

Whenever I get a comment about how pale I am (usually when I have been abroad), I always say "why thank you, you have no idea how much time, money and effort I have spent on staying pale so it is always nice for it to be noticed".

Usually shuts them up.

I'm so pale that they once refused to release me from hospital until my husband confirmed that I normally looked like that! It didn't bother me then and wouldn't now - in fact it's one of the few aspects of my appearance that I am completely unselfconscious about, but then I have never had a tan (thought I had once, turned out it was fine dirt stuck to my sunscreen). I can see that if you feel as though it is a negative trait, then you wouldn't want to have someone comment on it, but I really don't see why you would be embarrassed or ashamed of being pale. If anyone comments to me I just explain that I burn like bacon in the sun so avoid it at all costs. It sounds like the guy was just trying to make conversation - he'd probably be mortified if he knew he'd upset you unless he has form for being mean or spiteful.