We do not actively tan, but living in the SE US we are exposed daily. I have had 4 rounds of skin cancer already, so no thanks to laying out.

I am outside a lot. Live within walking distance of the lake and garden as well as ride a motorcycle. I have a great tan but dont actively try. I use a sunscreen but the amount of time that I am outside mandates that I will get some.

I did the Jergens Natural Glow for a while. But I got annoyed with the way it exfoliated off so easily whenever I showered or even scratched an itch. I'm using the Hemp stuff now. It's more of a gradual build up, but I never have to worry about it rubbing/exfoliating off.

I'm ghostly pale.

Sorry but tanning beds give you the exact same UV exposure as laying in the sun would is worse admittedly but no different in a health sense. The sun causing skin cancer is no myth lol it is a giant ball of radiation cooking you whenever you lay out in it.

Every time you walk out under our lovely sun you get exposed to the radiation so it goes without saying any extra time spent increases the risk of skin cancer since it can give it to you just by being in it.

The more you do it the more you will pay for it the long run. That lovely tan your getting is your body trying to protect itself from the damage you are doing to it so any tan in general is the first sign of UV damage.

My wife is from AU there sun will freaking kill you being out in it to long and many get skin cancer there lmao. Her mom has it her moms mom has it lol the sun is not nice to your skin =/

Exactly! Reminds me of people who deny smoking causes cancer. My father is dark skinned Mediterranean man, always used to lie out in the sun, used a sun lamp in the winter. He had a dark "base coat" from his natural skin color and he still has had skin cancer at least 3 times. His skin also is very wrinkled and leathery. Funny thing was, when he was in his 20s and 30s and even early 40s, people would tell him how "healthy" his tans made him look. They've aged him beyond his years now, his skin is permanently damaged and he has faced cancer several times.

"Looking healthy" and actually being healthy are two completely different things. Tans, IMO, don't look healthy. All I can think when I see someone who has obviously "worked on her tan" is "Boy, is she gonna regret that later."

I haven't had a tan since I was about 16, I worked at our local Baby Pool, and sat in the sun all day. I actually got "ashy" my skin got so dark and dry! Even straight oil wouldn't relieve the "ash." Fighting fine lines around my eyes and mouth, and fearing the fate of my father's cancers now makes me wish I had stopped getting tanned a lot younger.

LOL! I don't like the movie Pretty Woman, but the quote is hilarious.

I agree, I can't just lie there I have to do something. I remember as a young teen once in a while a friend would suggest "lying out" and I would get bored and either go home or go do something else in about 2 minutes. I can't just lie "like broccoli" and do nothing with my time. If I'm outside I want to be doing something, and I do it with sunscreen.