To Tan or Not to Tan

To tan or not to tan that is the question on my mind lately. I have been watching the Jersey Shore a lot lately. There seems to be a marathon on every time I turn on MTV. As a 20something woman who is Italian, I look at them and think maybe I should be tanner. So many things are coming out saying that tanning beds can cause cancer. But then why is everyone still using them? So should I join my friends and the cast of Jersey Shore and become a tanning bed junky or should I stay my pasty white self.

I recently read in my Women's Healthy magazine, "A new analysis of 20 studies has made a scary conclusion: your skin cancer risk increases by 75 percent if you use tanning beds before age 30. Experts have also moved tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation from "probable carcinogens" into the highest cancer risk category: "carcinogenic to humans". Other members of that group include arsenic, tobacco, and mustard gas." (Tanning Beds up Skin Cancer Risk By 75 Percent Amy Van Deusen) That stat is super scary 75% chance I will get cancer. I have seen people go through chemo and radiation for cancer it is tough to watch. So my friends are seriously risking their lives? Why is this not outlawed? Why are there things on the market like tanning bed and cigarettes if there is evidence that they are harmful to people's health. Sometimes I do not understand this country and it regulations.

The vain side of me still yearns for a sexy golden glow. I want to look good as all the reality and non-reality stars out there. Yes there are a few pasty white beauties out there, Kirsten Dunst
Rachel McAdams, Rose McGowan, and Keira Knightley to name a few. But I still would like to see my skin a little bit darker so I do not feel like I look sickly all the time. So I do my research and find a few of the best self tanners out there, Jergens Natural Glow and Jergens Natural Glow for Face,
Vaseline Intensive Care Healthy Body Glow, and Dove's Energy Glow. I think I will try these out for a little while and see if I can get a nice glow and not have to go the tanning bed route. But still it's an option that is out there but it is definitely not the safest choice.