to think that people who sneer at fake tans...

[CeQueLEnfer]

... are partly responsible for the rise in skin cancer deaths?

I read the story today of Vinnie Jones and his wife both suffering from skin cancer and it got me thinking. There is no doubt that having a tan makes you look younger, healthier and slimmer, so I can understand why people want to have one.

But when people do the responsible thing and fake it, other people can be very nasty. References to looking "orange", "tangoed" and "chavvy" and other put-downs put people off having a fake tan in favour of a proper tan, in spite of the risks.

I think people should be applauded for going the fake route if they want a tan, not sneered at. And those who do sneer should think about the damage they are causing.

AIBU? What do others think?

What a ridiculous statement.
Maybe the bad fake tans are responsible for skin cancer as people get a real one to avoid looking orange.
Perhaps it's the really good fake tans because they are so realistic people can't tell the difference.
Or maybe everyone is responsible for their own safety.

For what it's worth all the people I know who heavily use fake tan also use sun beds and sunbathe so they are not saving themselves from anything.

YABU. What a stupid thing to say.

Opinions don't cause cancer.

And I'm pretty sure the stigma is about badly executed fake tans rather than fake tan as a whole.

The assertion that a tan makes you look younger, healthier and slimmer, was from work carrried out by David Perrett who is an anthropolgist, I believe.

To those people who think IABU, do you also reject the notion that our anti-fat society contributes to anorexia?

I shall sneer at all ridiculous fakery.

My dad died from skin cancer and it had nothing to do with wanting a tan or being orange.

You know, here in Asia, we're all bombarded with creams to lighten the skin.

That's a ridiculous argument CeQue. First of all we need to eat, we don't need to tan. And I'd hardly say we're an anti-tan society! And by your argument if we were then surely the equivalent of anorexia is people staying in the shade?

I sneer at those orange looking people and don't really care. It's your own choice to tan knowing the risks, it's not my responsibility in any way.

My grandfather had skin cancer - fuck all to do with sunbeds and fake tans.

YABU and very silly.

If someone is so affected by the views of other people that they choose the risk of skin cancer or leathery and aged skin rather than slap on the fake stuff then they clearly have a problem that it is important they get help with. It's not healthy for someone to be that bothered by what other people might think about such trivia.

Most people would shrug their shoulders and say you know what, I don't care what you think. Or if they did care, they'd simply do a better job with the fake tan. Maybe even go to one of those fake tan places I've seen popping up.

And they have the option to not do either and just leave their skin alone.

A bad fake tan does look weird. It just does. Nobody is actually that colour so of course you notice

Imagine someone saying well, I HAVE to have a tan and I HAVE to make sure that no stranger ever comments on my fake tan so I HAVE to use a sunbed and if I get cancer, that's their fault.

Doesn't that sound ridiculous?

I am not sure if I understand the op tbh, but I have had two basal cell carcinomas removed. It took me a long time to get a proper diagnosis for the first. I just want to say if you are at all worried about skin cancer talk to your gp, or Macmillan, who are massively helpful

Oh, well if one anthropologist says so, it must be true.

Tanned skin looks older because it is damaged. I just googled David Perret and the first page is full of articles on research that shows that people who eat more fruit/vegetables and have a healthy complexion were perceived as looking better than those that were tanned. So no I really don't get where you are coming from at all.

The only sort of fake tans that are sneered at are those that look very unnatural (a natural looking effect is more likely to be thought of as real and so not nearly as noticeable). Excessive natural/sun bed tans can also draw attention generally because it's really not a very attractive look on most people.

Pale and beautiful is the way ahead (I shoudl confess I'm at the 'glow in the dark' end of the spectrum!)

YABU!

ALL tans look AWFUL imo. Makes you look younger?? No way, tanned skin is extremely ageing.

Sophie looks beautiful and fake tan free on strictly.

There is no doubt that having a tan makes you look younger, healthier and slimmer, so I can understand why people want to have one.

And your evidence for this is?

perfect example of someone who looks SOOOO beautiful without their fake tan

or sunbed tan! I can't tell. but either way - she looks smashing without it.

YABU.

It is possible to have a fake tan without looking orange. Most people that go about with the tango look have overdone it on the foundation, not the fake tan anyway.

I don't think the anti fat thing causes anorexia. It may be a contributing factor, but it's not one that should be expected to go away, because it's not healthy to be fat. We have more people suffering illness because of too much fat on their bodies than we have because of extreme thinness, so the anti fat message is an important one.

The health message is an important one, the abuse fat people by shouting FAT BITCH/ WHO ATE ALL THE PIES in the street at them is not as helpful as people may think . Health v fat 'shaming'. It really isn't a supportive health message that's pushed,generally, by people in the street, is it?

I have yet to have it yelled at me OI, YOUR BMI WILL CAUSE YOU SIGNIFICANT HEALTH PROBLEMS, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CHOLESTEROL LEVELS...

[GRIN]

Oh gtfo.

Skin cancer isn't a single-factorial disease anyway. It's not just about sun exposure. Some sun exposure is a good thing, to get people's vitamin D levels up (vitamin D has anti-cancer properties, by the way).

Too little sun exposure is also linked to rickets and MS. You don't need much but you do need some, and a few people go too far the other way in sun avoidance.

Moderation in all things!

Im a fake tan wearer & YABU.

If someone doesnt like the fact I wear fake tan thats their opinion, but I have done for years & Their comments wouldnt make me go use sunbeds or tan for real.
Skin cancer is in my family & I have a mole on the side of my face. I have never sunbathed.
I wear tan because I love tan, makeup, hair dye & all of that.
unpopular opinion on here sometimes but each to their own

I think your comments are unreasonable.

On the contrary. Fake tan encourages the idea that skin in its natural state isn't beautiful.

Their comments wouldnt make me go use sunbeds or tan for real.

That's as maybe, but there are plenty of people out there who do use sunbeds or bake in the sun and they are risking sun damage and death for doing so.

I just think we should promote a healthier alternative for those who want to be tanned.

"I just think we should promote a healthier alternative for those who want to be tanned."

So like promoting e-cigs for those who want to smoke? You don't need to promote it, the option is there for anyone who things tanning (or smoking) is good.