skin cancer

[dancingleaf]

skin cancer is a pet issue of mine.

yes I used to be one of those people that LOVED summer.  I LOVED having a tan.  I spent tons of time in the sun every chance I got.

then I started to burn? wtf?

and in my mid 20's found out that skin cancer is not something old people got after a LIFETIME of exposure. Skin cancer is no joke.

it drives me crazy that so many people think pale is unhealthy.

yes I am ready for the facebook fallout from my post today.

"Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Canada. BE SUN SMART! shade, sunscreen, hats. Surgery scars aren't worth the trade for that nice "unhealthy" tan."


guess we'll see.  I have this discussion with people EVERY YEAR.  Sometimes many many times.

 

Comments

[sacramentalist.livejournal.com]

Embrace the pallid.

[smeddley.livejournal.com]

"Pasty by Choice" here! It's weird, I was never a huge sun worshiper, and even without a family history I'm totally paranoid about skin cancer.

My day-glow white skin just completes the 'Pillsbury Dough Boy' look I'm so close to achieving, anyway! ;)

[faedreamer.livejournal.com]

I'm so ridiculously pale, but I've embraced it. I used to try to tan but my skin just doesn't go that route. Nothing happens. I don't tan, I don't burn, I don't get freckles, I just...nothing. I'm half scottish and my coloring leans to the very pale, dark hair, blue eyed scot.

The *one* time I managed a light tan I was out by the pool tanning for two hours every single day. And it barely showed. I gave up after a month or so and enjoy my pale now. :) I actually enjoy it (other than the hassle of finding foundation light enough for me that doesn't make me look jaundiced or like an Oompa Loompa) because pale people can wear way brighter/more fun eyeshadow colors than someone with a tan underneath. My ghost white skin shows my makeup way better.

[dancingleaf.livejournal.com]

I don't mind being pale either but there's a lot of year round pressure in the bellydance community to go for the tanning bed OR the spray tan.

There a lot of people around our area with pools - so lots of posts about "opening the pool" "can't wait to use the pool"

AND the person who claims she has to spend 2x a week in the winter in the tanning booth to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder. - yes she really told me that.

I have a lot of trouble finding the right foundation too. But I'm really loving the red hair. Makes my pale skin POP! :)

[mish55.livejournal.com]

I'm always pale.

With my red hair... seriously... I can burn in 20 minutes. I got burned Sunday after having sunscreen on all day and reapplied it frequently. Just a minor burn, but the sun is no joke. I'm looking forward to being all pasty again.

[kaylin.livejournal.com]

Not red haired, have some Native American ancestory, and can I get a tan? Nope. I can burn like a Mofo though, and the medication I am/ was on makes me photo sensitive.

I have learned to love my pale, regardless of what people say to me.
The classic is usually:
Someone: "Ewww, go get a tan! You're so pasty!"
Me: "Thanks. The reason I look ten years younger than I actually am is because I don't tan. But by all means, you're more than welcome to make yourself look like your worn Gucci handbag even though you're younger than me."

I wear a minimum of an SPF 60, wear a hat when I go out, as well as long sleeves and pants. That which is not covered gets a good dose of the Sunscreen.
That, and I also have tattoos. I don't want them to fade, so I slather on the sunscreen for them as well.