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Free
rays preferred despite medical risks
of sunbathing
Laura
Johnson
Even
though it is a known and proven fact
that sun exposure is bad for skin and
causes cancer, I have been performing
the deadly ritual of sunbathing as long
as I’ve been wearing a bathing
suit.
Countless times my friends and family have scolded me for my refusal to wear
any sort of sunscreen, especially because my grandfathers on both sides have
had skin cancer growths removed from their ears and faces.
Even though I know the risks and my family history, I ignore their and most
medical professionals’ advice, and I know I’m not the only one.
So what causes such risky behavior? It is a combination of vanity, the “it
won’t happen to me” philosophy, and to some small degree, ignorance.
As I walk around campus, I sometimes feel like I’m witnessing a fashion
show, or even a beauty contest. For some reason we all feel like we need to
compete with one another to look the best, to be either the blondest, the thinnest,
or even, the tannest.
I know when I see a bronzed goddess with perfect legs walk by or a celebrity
with a beautiful glow, I often look down at my pasty legs with contempt.
There are two main reasons I won’t get a fake tan: I don’t want
to look like an oompa loompa and I don’t want to pay money. I have seen
many young ladies, and even some celebrities, who are bizarrely tan.
I have tried the creams and sprays and have suffered through weeks of freakishly
orange blotchy skin. There is also the cost factor. At this point in my life,
do I really want to waste money to get a nice (expensive) tan when I can get
some sun for free?
As a young college student, I rarely sit and think about what medical conditions
I may be faced with in the future. I am pretty sure this is the case with many
of us, as indicated by the number of people on campus I see smoking and drinking.
In these cases we often make ourselves feel better by adopting the “it
won’t happen to me” philosophy. Do I really think I will get skin
cancer from lying in the sun all day?
Sure, it’s quite possible. Do I worry about it? Absolutely not. Like
with the possibility of getting in a car accident, being kidnapped or dying,
skin cancer is just one of those things I prefer to not think about.
Laura Johnson is a math major. |
