It's official - tanned skin is in.
From the pages of beauty magazines to the halls of local high schools, youthful, bronzed bodies are everywhere.
It used to be a seasonal trend - a tan was a souvenir from a summer trip to the beach or it was acquired gradually through months of cultivating a garden or taking walks.
But now year-round tans are the norm, especially here in the Southern states.
Really, who can blame someone for wanting to be tanned?
Aside from the fact that it is often viewed as an attractive trait, tanned skin is seen by many as a sign of health and vitality.
A person who spends a lot of time outdoors is probably more likely to be leading an active, healthy lifestyle. Plus, for most people, being out in the sun just feels good.
R. Arnold Smith Jr., a doctor of radiation and oncology from the North Central Mississippi Regional Cancer Center at Greenwood-Leflore Hospital, says that light is good for us psychologically, and he compares the popularity of sun bathing to smoking because of it's addictive nature.
"Smoking makes a lot of people feel good," Smith said, "but we know it causes lung cancer."
There are known benefits to being out in the sun, such as vitamin D absorption, but as with smoking, they do not outweigh the dangers.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is now the most common form of cancer in the United States, with over a million new cases diagnosed annually.
The three main forms of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, the latter being the most likely to result in fatality.
"We know that the risk of skin cancer has gone up and melanoma cases are rising sharply," Smith said. "There is not any question that sun is a causative agent for cancers, and not just skin cancers."
He explained that sunlight damages the DNA in cells, which leads to the growth of cancer. Skin is the human body's first line of defense against ultraviolet radiation, but the sun can also cause damage to cells beneath the skin's surface.
As for those year-round tanners who think that indoor tanning beds provide "safe" tans - not only is that not true, it is far from it.
Research from the Skin Cancer Foundation has shown that high-pressure sunlamps can emit doses of UVR as much as 15 times stronger than light from the sun, and even just occasional use of tanning beds can double or triple the risk of skin cancers.
Smith says that Caucasians of Scotch-Irish descent are known to be the most susceptible to skin cancer, because their ancestors come from Northern climates with minimal sunlight.
Skin cancer is uncommon in individuals with African, Latino or Asian heritage. However, skin cancer can still pose a threat to these populations, because their darker skin tones can make cancers more difficult to detect when they are present.
Aside from the danger of skin cancer, the other down side to tanning is premature aging. That tan that looks so great now will not look so good when the skin begins developing wrinkles even before the age of 30.
So what to do? How can we protect ourselves if we aren't willing to hibernate indoors all summer long?
Here are some tips from the Skin Cancer Foundation:
Avoid peak hours.
The sun is at its peak between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so try to stay inside or stick to shaded areas if you're outside during these hours.
Complete outdoor tasks, like yard work or walking the dog, in the morning or evening. Bonus: It will be cooler outside at those times too.
Wear sunscreen.
When you do have to be out in the sun, wearing a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher is essential. It should be applied liberally to all exposed areas - don't miss little spots like your feet or ears.
Sunscreen has come a long way in its effectiveness and is no longer as unpleasant to apply as it used to be. There are wipes, sprays, sticks and gels; and it is now added to many moisturizers and cosmetics.
Basically, there are no more excuses to skip it.
Cover up.
Clothing provides extremely effective protection from the sun. It's like having an extra layer of skin.
Wear a hat and sunglasses to shield your face, and wear light-weight clothing on the rest of your body. Try not to leave too much skin exposed.
Do not burn.
Think of a sunburn as an overdose of sunlight. Too many of those overdoses over the course of a lifetime - especially when you're young - will eventually catch up to you.
Five or more sunburns at any age will double your chances of developing melanoma.
Not to mention the fact that it's uncomfortable and unattractive anyway.
Check your skin regularly.
It is recommended that you examine your own skin monthly, and have a physician do a professional skin examination once a year.
Smith says to look for any dark area - particularly with a blue or brownish hue - that is clearly growing. Also look out for moles with irregular shape, color or growth.
"Some people will say, 'You've got to die of something,'" Smith said, "but it's not prudent. When they get older their skin problems will be severe, but it's hard to break away from that irrational behavior."
