by Marsha Sigman

Created on: July 13, 2008   Last Updated: July 25, 2008

I love to tan. I am not tanning myself to death, however. I do take a break in December and January. I understand all the warnings that have been released from doctors and medical professionals. I have read all the articles and I understand the dangers. I still love to tan.

I remember when articles were being written that microwaves caused cancer and people immediately stopped using them. I never stopped. I love my microwave; it has saved me countless hours in the kitchen over the years. Then there were studies being done regarding the link between cell phone usage and brain tumors. I ignored the propaganda and continued talking on my cell phone. Red meat causes colon cancer. I still love a rare steak.

Anything done in excess has risks. I will not lead my life according to the hysteria created by the media. If we did, we would all sit inside our homes 24 hours a day, eating crackers and drinking water. Not tap water though, that may cause cancer.

I am a member of my local tanning salon. I keep my membership throughout the year but for those few months I abstain through the Holidays. Without tanning I am very pale and tend to have naturally dark circles under my eyes. I do not look healthy and more importantly I do not feel as healthy. In the summer I come alive. I love the sun and all the summer activities with my family. Before summer actually starts I use the tanning bed to achieve a base tan so that when I do venture out in the summer I will not sunburn. I gradually achieve this tan without burning. I have sunburned on numerous occasions before starting this yearly ritual and that was while using a high SPF sunscreen.

I continue to use the tanning bed throughout the year to maintain my tan. I look better with a healthy color to my skin and I feel better physically when out in the sun. We, as humans, need sunlight to survive. Most of our grandparents worked in fields or other hard manual labor jobs in the sun without the benefit of sunscreen. No one in my family has ever been diagnosed with skin cancer. I wonder if the current uproar over sun exposure will increase profits for companies that manufacturer sunscreens? I wonder who is paying for the research being done?

I use a very low SPF sunscreen when I am at the pool or beach. I never burn in the sun, but I do take precautions and do not allow myself to over tan or stay exposed for too long a period of time. I also lather my child with sunscreen repeatedly when we are out in the sun. A child's skin is more sensitive to sun exposure and I want him to be protected. I have and will continue to inform him of the dangers of overexposure to tanning and other harmful risks to his health. I will teach him to conduct his own research and make an informed decision on what concerns him as an adult.

We should all pay attention to our bodies and have yearly checkups that include skin care. Just as we have been taught to check for suspicious lumps, we should also keep an eye on any moles or spots that change in size or color. This just makes good sense. It does not make good sense to run scared at every urgent health warning released by doctors who may have hidden agendas.

I plan on living happily to a ripe old age just as my grandparents did. With my sun bronzed skin, eating microwave popcorn while talking on my cell phone, and waiting for my husband to finish grilling my huge rare steak.

Learn more about this author, Marsha Sigman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.