Super tanned people everywhere!

[LostInClothes]

So, everyone seems to have a deep tan here right now, young, old, whatever.
Wherever I go people are looking more tanned than I have ever noticed before.

A lot of it looks very even so I presume not fake?
If so, is tanning increasing again or did it never go away?
I am talking quite deep tans here, all over, so if they are fake then they're pretty good quality - if I use st tropez it comes off in patches within days

I even wondered if sun bed use had started to increase again.

AIBU to think most of these tans are real and here I am stuck inside or slathered in sunblock trying to be mindful of skin cancer??

It's been a very good, dry, hot summer! I work very part time, and spend a LOT of time outdoors! I have a lovely deep tan. I am not very pale anyway - quarter Italian - and I do tan so well, much to the disgust of my Irish husband who can't tan at all, and just burns!

I think the "all tans are unhealthy" mantra is probably wrong, and possibly dangerous.

This paper came out recently, adding to an increasing body of research suggesting that sunlight is really important for health. Even sunbeds may reduce mortality - although personally I won't be using them, especially in advance of any properly randomised controlled trials.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829224001564

My preference is to get a decent amount of sunshine, whilst trying very hard never to burn. I'm not at all convinced that supplements are an adequate alternative; I suspect it's like taking a multivitamin - better than nothing if you aren't eating fruit and veg, but inferior to the real thing.

I have a tan, and I accept that I may have a few more wrinkles as a result; it's the price I'm willing to pay for staying healthy.

I don’t tan, at all. But the rest of my family is olive skinned and get a deep tan just from gardening, walking outside etc
I look like the random relative next to them!

I firmly agree. It’s not healthy to be inside all day either.

I’ve accepted that in 20 years my face may not match my body but hey ho. I also do not slap factor 50 on my kids all day either. They don’t burn but they need a bit of sun on their skin. I wouldn’t put it on for a 10 minute walk to school for example.

Where we live in the UK, there has barely been a day of rain since April. I think its rained once in the Summer holidays. Im a big fan of Summer, but its gone on so long, actually looking forward to cooler temps and abit of rain now.

Even if you worked full time and had no time off, every weekend has been sunny and most people get out and about in the nice weather.

We’ve had a week abroad and still have a deep tan many weeks later as its topped up all the time on walks, days out, park trips (haven’t done any specific sunbathing trying to get a tan).

I always wear factor 30 (50 at the start of Summer) and have a great tan. You would have to never be in the sun (which equally isnt healthy) to not have abit of colour this year.

The quality of fake tan has improved a lot is say

Just back from holiday. 2 weeks in the sun. We only wear factor 50 and regularly reapply. Have a deep tan and no burning.

I'm pretty tanned this year and always wear factor 50 and a hat when out and about in the sun and never sunbathe. There has just been a lot of sun this year (and I have the sort of pale olive skin that tans well).

Some people myself included do not tan in the sun 😕

Sunbeds are still popular

If it wasn't for our blue eyes, you would put us as Mediterranean as we all have dark brown hair.

Err plenty of English people tan 😆

Odd for MN to see people almost boasting of how dark they are even after sunscreen, since most discussions about sun exposure usually result in a bun fight about cancer

It's MNs, they are competitive about everything. "I am a shade of mahogany despite never going outside and wearing factor 50" is the new "I do 20k steps before 7am pottering around the house".

Jesus what do you want out of this thread op?! 😂 So what if people have been out in the sun and caught a tan? I’m not sure why you’re bothered by it - is this a tsk tsk thread about not wearing sunscreen? We went to Egypt and used factor 50 - still came back bladdy tanned. We live next to a beach and the kids have been there almost daily since the weather has turned - obvs with protection and they are STILL catching the sun. I’m not sure of the problem?

I live near a strong Korean community, msny don't tan because they cover arms & legs. Always wear hats.

I dont know anyone in ‘real life’ who spends their days obsessing over skin cancer.

All my friends are brown from the sun (not sunbeds or fake tans). I also haven’t heard any of my friends talking about getting burnt either. We are all sensible, put suncream on if your heading out in the sun, kids covered in suncream (that goes without saying) and most people get some shade for the hottest part of the day.

We’ve not had a summer this good in years so most people will be brown from just being out and about at the weekend. Every outdoor attraction must have had the best Summer they can remember so enjoy the sun and getting out and about. Staying indoors on sunny days isnt healthy at all and nor is getting burnt to a crisp. Most people know to take the sensible middle-ground.

As PP said, lots of young people have a really weird attitude to UV levels. When they read that the levels are high, they can’t wait to get outside and lie in direct sun. I had to have a chat with my DD about this a couple of years ago when she was 17. I pointed out that she had completely misunderstood the point of UV levels being published. It’s not telling you ‘this is a great time to get a tan!’ It’s telling you to be very careful!

And PP’s grandma was right that there is no such thing as a safe tan. Like everyone else, I enjoy picking up a bit of colour, but I’m well aware that it isn’t safe so I avoid it as much as possible.

I lost my Dad to melanoma. It is a fucking horrendous cancer. In the span of about 6 weeks, he went from seemingly completely healthy and normal to non-verbal, incontinent and unable to do anything for himself (wherever a melanoma is situated on the body, it can enter the bloodstream and travel silently to any and all organs of the body, including the brain). And he wasn’t a sun worshipper. He did spend a fair bit of time outside doing sports and activities but he never sunbathed.

It broke my heart and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

It’s interesting but worrying to see that lots of people still think it is safe to have a tan as long as they didn’t burn. 🫤

The majority of the population would have a tab this year even without actively sunbathing. I love forest walks over lying on the beach sunbathing and you would still get a tan if you spent the day in a forest in this weather. We’ve had non stop sun since April in alot of the country. It would be sad if people didnt get out and about enjoying the warm days. If you look outdoors, most people are out enjoying it. Life is about balance.

We've had a decent summer this year with many days in a row of hot weather. I've annoyingly been burnt twice this year despite copious spf.

That said, two new sunbed shops have opened in the two villages next to mine....

I don’t know. Is it something to do with the sun?

I used to love tanning & would really work in my tan but after a parent had skin cancer a few years ago I'm so careful. They are super lucky to still be here with only minimal facial scarring. It terrified me tbh.

@Waitingfordoggo

@Lauralou19Yes I understand that. In my part of the UK, it’s been mostly warm and sunny for weeks. Please don’t imagine I’m hiding inside my house (I have to go to work for starters 😂) So I do spend time outside but always sit in the shade/wear a hat/cover shoulders and arms. Inevitably I have picked up some colour anyway.

You have quoted me but didn’t really comment on what I said.

The point is that a sun tan isn’t completely safe, and that is the case whether you have deliberately got tanned or not 🤷🏼‍♀️

It's pretty much impossible to live your life in hot sunny weather and not get a tan to some degree, even with sunscreen and avoiding direct exposure as much as possible. I find all the hand wringing about how unhealthy it is completely bizarre tbh. For the vast vast majority of people, a light tan from simply existing on this planet during summer isn't going to give them cancer. Lack of sun exposure and outdoor activity is much more likely to be harmful. People need to get a grip

Thank you @smugmugg. I’m really glad your parent survived 🙏 💐