Skin cancer rates among young women have increased 50% since the 1980s. You can read about it here.
I say "no duh" because you can't help but notice that most teenage girls are freakishly tanned -- even in the dead of winter. (Every time I see a girl walking into a tanning salon or baking herself at the beach, I think the same thing -- "Honey, you are going to be really sorry when you're 35.")
The percentage of increase in skin cancer, however, is....completely shocking. It should be noted that the increase is only for women. The rate of skin cancer among men has remained stable.
Yet another instance where young women are, literally, killing themselves to try and meet the standards of American beauty.
We frequent a Subway restaurant that is located right next to a tanning salon. I see the parade of women in and out of that place and can't help but think that they are paying someone to give them cancer.
Funny story (or not so funny depending on how you look at it): One day when the girls and I were going to Subway, several of the tanning booths were open and the beds were open and glowing. They girls got wide-eyed and said..."mommy....what is that? It's scary."
Not missing a beat, I said, "Oh..it is scary, honey. People pay money to sit in those things and burn their skin -- and sometimes it causes cancer."
Mouths agape, they both agreed they never, ever wanted to do that.
Here's hoping my scare tactics still work when the teen years arrive.
Comments (1)
I tan beautifully! I lost an aunt to cancer... which started from a mole that freaked from too much sun exposure and ended in a brain tumor that took her life. Since then I've been scared to death to go in the sun... This past weekend I got fried... So bad that it hurts... I'm not really proud... after all, it only takes once.
I have lovingly named the tanner teens at my school "The pumpkin patch." They represent the African American Population of Caucasians. I don't understand it... I don't agree with it... I'd never wish cancer upon ANYONE however, I wish these people would come to the realization that they are risking their lives for beauty...
Pale is the new tan!
Posted by Michelle F. | July 11, 2008 9:57 PM
Posted on July 11, 2008 21:57