Why do people find a suntan attractive?

[ILoveMyMeows]

Just curious...

I don’t get it. People can get addicted to the look or whatever and if they are drawn to sun beds there are serious health risks associated with those. I think the sun, or its alternatives, age the skin too.

A tan is basically burnt skin.

I like being pale. I don’t want my skin damaged.

As for affording a holiday abroad, that’s hardly a big deal in the times of cheap flights. That may, of course, be different post-COVID.
We travel a lot but cities, with their galleries and so on, are our preference. Love shady streets and awnings.

AgeLikeWine is right - tanned skin became associated with leisure and money in the 60s and 70s when commercial travel made it possible for people to go abroad. It was a signal of having money.

Conversely in the 19th century - aristocratic women carried parasols and wore gloves when out in the sun to maintain their pale skin.

This was because tanned skin was associated with the peasants out in the fields. Therefore dark skin was associated with the lower classes and pale skin was associated with the upper ranks.

Luckily for them 19th century women didn't have to go on the beach in a bikini!!!

Personally I think tanned skin looks great - unfortunately I'm a typical English rose.

Makes me look healthier, I am pale and have a circulation disorder so I usually have "corned beef" skin and look purple, with some tan on it's less noticeable also having a nice glow about me makes me feel more confident.

Legs look much better tanned. White legs are never a good look.

Tanned skin also looks healthier and more slimming too.

For as long as women have bared their legs we've known they need to be a tanned colour. Remember the graving browning during the War? Yes, done to immitate stockings, not sun tan but also in the knowledge that pale bare legs are not a good look.

"As for affording a holiday abroad, that’s hardly a big deal in the times of cheap flights. "

Yes, but an average person would go abroad maybe once or twice a year - wouldn't have a permanent tan. I don't think foreign holidays within Europe are a luxury as they're often cheaper than holidays within the UK, but they're certainly more expensive than going for a spray tan or buying a bottle.

@candilemon

I don’t get it. People can get addicted to the look or whatever and if they are drawn to sun beds there are serious health risks associated with those. I think the sun, or its alternatives, age the skin too.

Fake cadilemon! Then you can look healthy AND be healthy.

I don’t know but I think it may be a case of what suits people better. I tan up quite a bit (think three shades in make up) and I definitely get more attention and comments when I’m paler. Even wearing a dark colour which makes my skin look lighter in contrast elicits compliments. I all fairness I look a bit course and muddy/all one colour when tanned. It’s not good.

*coarse, my skin looks thicker and my bone structure gets a bit lost.

I much prefer myself with a tan.

I often have dark circles and uneven skin tone but their look is greatly reduced if I’m tanned.

I haven't had a tan since I was a child. I think it looks awful, I suppose I associate it with sun damage and old people.

When I say tan I don't mean the deep tan , straight out of Benidorm look, just a bit of colour.

The deep tan was definitely considered desirable in the 80s and early 90s, I can remember people lying out with exposed body parts as soon as there was a ray of sun.

I don't think foreign holidays within Europe are a luxury as they're often cheaper than holidays within the UK...

Not a luxury, necessarily. It depends why you want from a holiday. My idea of an awful holiday would be lolling on a beach with far too many others, on a package deal with no focus on culture.

Cities are my preference.

homemadecommunistrussia

I haven't had a tan since I was a child. I think it looks awful, I suppose I associate it with sun damage...

I tend to agree.