I know it's bad for you and can cause real health problems but bloody hell, aibu to think everyone looks better with a suntan?

[Eeepsh]

Just that really!

am irish and one of the unusual ones that only has to step outside and I get a colour. however I don't have the patience to sit out and always cover myself in suncream. I do however wear fake tan most weeks. I dunno why everyone saying they hate tan. majority of women in Ireland and the UK wear fake tan and its done well on most so you don't know whats real or not. anyone I know going on hols majority get a spray tan before going. and we are pros at maintaining it

The tan comes after, on the second lot of sun exposure.

A bit of a tan/vit D is healthy for me as I have a skin condition that really likes the UV rays. And on recent tests I have vit D deficiency. And I take high dose vit d with k!!

I had one cut out of my thigh, I'm older so scarring not really a problem there fortunately, it was a large incision, I think about 14 stitches and a 10 cm scar and a bit of a dent left in my leg,

I fake tan because I love being brown and don't go brown naturally. I also hate sunbathing and would rather protect my skin. My daughter, on the other hand, has flawless porcelain skin and really doesn't need a tan. She's very lucky I think.

it depends on your colouring surely? I don’t think I look better with a tan but my husband does. He’s luminescent without one and looks much healthier when he’s got a little bit of colour.

My kids and i go a light golden, even with high factor suncream.

Its actually not healthy to completely block sun with factor 50/block 247. You need that sunlight, cultures who cover up a lot, especially those with darker skin, can have a lot of problems with low vitamin D.

During the hottest part of the day its better to be in the shade without suncream that in the direct sun with it. You get vitamin D on bare skin in the shade.

What side dish would you like to go with your ass?

I would rather be pale (I'm ginger) and have my health and skin. After seeing what happened to my Nanna's legs from horrific skin cancer it has put me off for life. Massive divets cut out of her legs, that were so painful for her while healing.

I don't even bother with fake tan anymore.

That's what false tan is for

Yes!!

I look better with a tan but I fake it because it’s healthier and looks better.

But I know lots of people who look better without a tan.

It just depends on the person.

I'm very light blonde/blue eyes and usually keep out of the sun. I'm usually in a hat and sunglasses in the summer.

However, I am lucky that I go a really lovely golden colour with minimal effort. I'm on holiday abroad and the moment and was out today in the sun playing with the children (with factor 50 on). I just got ready to go out for the evening. I must admit I do look really healthy looking with a bit of a tan.....

I look 100% better with a tan.

There are a fair few Nicole types in Ireland. But in general yeah I think a tan improves most ppl. Looks healthy?

I do. I have olive undertones so look sallow if I become too pale. Additionally, my skin tans really easily.

Do wear SPF 30 and try to be cautious.

This is misinfo.

There is a lot of truth in this statement.

UV rays can in theory cause skin cancer but there are many many other factors that raise the risk too. Poor diet, lack of exercise, lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, overuse of cosmetics, smoking etc. And crucially spending too much time indoors!

If you block too much UV from your skin, your health will deteriorate via lack of vitamin D (which is actually a master hormone responsible for heart health, as well as bone health, it also regulates many other cellular functions in your body. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties support immune health, muscle function and brain cell activity.) It’s true also that heart attacks increase the further away from the equator you go (& strokes and high blood pressure) and they increase in winter too.

UV rays also increase your bodies levels of nitric oxide which is crucial for us to regulate our blood pressure. They also raise serotonin and other happy hormones and actually protect us against certain other types of cancer.

Obviously safe sun exposure is key. Burning is always bad. But the advice to put on your sunscreen before you go out isn’t always good advice. Humans need UV on our skin for good health. We’ve been taught to fear it but we evolved outdoors.

This article explains it all

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/wellness/sunscreen-sun-exposure-skin-cancer-science/

Totally agree, I wear sun cream every day but if a tan wasn’t bad for you then I’d be the colour of mahogany sideboard.

I’m ginger and very pale and do not tan even though I have a warm/golden undertone. I look worse with fake tan. I think it’s because my natural skin tone on my arms and legs has a natural luminosity and the tan cancels this out and creates a low contrast between my hair and skin. Low contrast can make you look a bit washed out and dull.

Yes, luckily our superpower is synthesising vitamin d so we don't need to expose our skin to uv for very long to get the benefit.

(My dad's 6 inch divot in his calf from having the wide local excision of his 2mm deep melanoma put me off for life too - no sunbathing for him, just years of wearing shorts on holiday.)

My beautiful sister died of melanoma. She had spent years abroad, often with a gorgeous looking tan. She wasn't old, would have had years ahead of her .
Now when I see anyone's tan all I can see is an unnecessary risk and a reminder of my own grief and loss.
So no, people don't look better with a tan. To me anyway

A light coat of paint over a dodgy wall

Perfect description of a tan for me (knocking 60, blue eyes, with blonde/grey/white hair) It colours over the scars, bumps and bruises and just seems to even everything out!

I usually spray tan my face neck and arms very lightly a couple of times a week in the summer, then I can get away with less make-up. I definitely look better for it.

Well if your tan gives you melanoma as it may well do you might feel that the stoma bag you need (after immune related colitis caused by side effects of immunotherapy needed to save your life when the cancer spread to your lungs) is actually not the ideal look. Nor is the three stone weight gain from long courses of steroids. But maybe that’s just me. And fwiw I was never a sunbather but was outside a lot with my horses and got melanoma on my forearm.
Fake tan is the only safe tan.