BodiMojo Teen Health Blog – Teenage Nutrition, Fitness, Stress, Relationships & More

by Samantha Burns

Over the Fourth of July and into this week, temperatures on the East Coast, where I live, have crept into triple digits. As the record heat wave continues, people flock to the beach and lounge by the pool to keep themselves cool.  And many take advantage of these beautiful and intense days by trying to achieve the perfect summer glow.  In today’s pop culture, with images of celebrities (think Snooki, from MTV’s Jersey Shore) at the beach or on the red carpet, it’s easy to associate beauty with a radiant tan.   I admit, I’m young, healthy, and it feels good to have a tan—the blemishes on my skin are less apparent and clothes seem to look better on my body, but are the benefits of being tan worth the risk?

The Teenage Cancer Trust recently conducted a survey entitled “Teens Are Burning to Be Beautiful,” which produced what I thought were some shocking results.

* Over 26 percent of teens (13-19 year olds) surveyed said they will deliberately get sunburnt this summer in the hope that the burn will turn into a tan

* 31% of young people say they never use sunscreen

* 74% of those surveyed say they will not be sun burnt on cloudy days.

I was surprised to read that the majority of people in this study did not know that it is possible to burn on cloudy days. Even with all of the medical knowledge that exists today, somehow the message of safe sunbathing is still not reaching teens.

Another survey conducted by Cancer Research UK revealed that more than a quarter of a million children between the ages of 11-17 expose themselves to skin cancer by using tanning beds.  This statistic disturbed me because teens may be too young to realize the long-term consequences of tanning.  They are concerned with acne, not future wrinkles!  It is upsetting to think about 11-year-olds spending their allowance at tanning salons in hope to “improve” their physical appearance.  They aspire to look like their bronzed role models, when in reality a more positive message they should hear is to love their skin type for what it is.

When I was in high school, my mother forbade me to go tanning and told me about the dangers of UV rays.  I remember being jealous of one girl in particular who had the most beautiful, golden-brown skin tone.  One day, to my surprise, when I was out for a walk I saw this girl entering a tanning salon in my town.  Part of me was envious that I was not allowed to tan, but the other part felt frustrated that I compared myself to someone who paid to be “beautiful.” Although at the time I was annoyed with my mother for not letting me tan, I’m thankful today that I have youthful looking skin and I take precautions to protect myself from sun damage.

The American Academy of Pediatrics AAP states that most “non-melanoma” skin cancers (the most common cancer in America) are caused by unprotected sun exposure in childhood and adolescence.  It is the UV-A and UV-B rays, which are also emitted by tanning beds that cause skin cancer.  The AAP also warns teens that chronic sun exposure can cause signs of premature aging, such as wrinkles, sagging cheeks and skin discoloration.  As a young adult in my mid-twenties, let me tell you that I am well aware of how quickly my body has developed and changed since high school.  Although I do not have any wrinkles yet, I bought my first “anti-aging” facial moisturizer this year.  With the vast array of new anti-aging products, I figured that I would give one a try in hopes of keeping my skin healthy and youthful.  Unfortunately, there is no Fountain of Youth or magical elixir; being proactive about protecting my skin so that I can look my best in the future is up to me!

One thing I try to keep in mind when I am tempted to soak up the rays is that being tan does not mean being healthy. It’s hard to take protective measures when the negative effects of sun exposure are not apparent for many years down the road.  But think about this—are the wrinkles, freckles, moles, and dark spots worth the fleeting summer tan in adolescence? I say, “no way!”

Samantha Burns is a graduate student in the M.A. Counseling program at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology and has worked with college students at the Office of Wellness Education at Framingham State College, and with adolescent females at KidsPeace, an organization dedicated to serving the behavioral and mental health needs of children, families, and communities.