As I sit here writing, I have to admit my summer vacation is progressively creeping to the front of my mind as it is now just days away. It certainly feels as though it’s been a very long, busy time since my last vacation – this one can’t come around quick enough.
Although I’m not one to spend hours on end soaking up the summer sun when on vacation, I am of course, no stranger to tanning and the habits of those who sunbathe. And in this regard, I do want to clarify that I am making a distinction between the habits of those who bathe in natural sunlight and tanning bed tanners.
And it is with this thought in mind, that whilst I do intend to completely relax and “re-charge the batteries” on my vacation, I have already begun to undertake the task of planning and employing ways of maintaining an inner-state of calm as I recline by the pool or on the beach. From experience, I know this inner-calm will be required and also will frequently be put to the test as I witness the inevitable hoards of holiday-makers overexposing themselves to the intense summer sunshine for hours on end every day. As you will probably now appreciate I, along with millions of other sun-starved Brits will not be taking my vacation in the UK.
The actions of the sun-hungry vacationers is somewhat ironic, given we are almost force-fed a constant diet of anti-tanning and health risk scare-mongering by much of the media throughout the year. Yet to the confusion of me and clearly many others, such preaching is all conveniently parked in the departure lounge as the summer vacation season descends. Frolicking and relaxing celebrities soaking up the summer sun appear to fill the print and online pages of the popular media, fuelling the copycat actions of the aspiring wannabes whilst at the same time undermining all those well-funded anti-tanning messages.
And the truth of it is that after all the years of anti-tanning propaganda, Joe Public still appears to be confused and at best, or should I actually say at worst, ignoring all information and campaign messages about responsible sun exposure. One only has to take a look at most parks and beaches on a rare sunny summer’s day here in the UK to find it packed with hoards of sun-starved Brits catching as many of the sun’s rays as they can.
The sensible approach (with scientific research to back it up) would suggest that we need regular, moderate exposures to UV rays, as can be provided in a professionally-run tanning salon. This would make even more sense in the UK, where we simply don’t get regular sunshine in the summer, let alone at any other time of year. So why is it then, that indoor tanning gets so much more bad press than outdoor tanning, when there are literally millions of examples of people overexposing and burning in the natural sun, which we all know is the one thing that must be avoided.
I find it really rather amusing that this summer’s two most trending topics in the UK offer up an unlikely connection. The first is in large part due to the absence of any regular sunshine so far this year; namely the seeking out of the sun’s rays whenever and wherever. The other is seeking out Pokémon. And the one thing they both have in common when it comes to us Brits: gotta catch ’em all!
After all the years of anti-tanning propaganda, Joe Public still appears to be confused about responsible sun exposure.
