Teens and Tanning
Some habits are best formed early. Proper skin care is one of them. I think my generation (I am 38) looks at skin care as my fathers generation looked at ciggarettes. I would never smoke knowing what I know now, but wearing sunblock, I often forget and think what is the harm.
I am glad my kids know better (thanks to their mother) We went to a pool party yesterday and I forgot the sunblock. Both my boys asked about it and borrowed a friends. (they are 7 and9) However older girls at the event were out tanning discussing how great tan skin looks in the summer and that the rainy spring prompted them to go to tanning salons. I asked them if they knew the dangers of tanning. They looked at me as an out of touch old man (that look will be seared in my brain for a while mind you!) Still after my questions they all put on sunscreen.
So I looked into the statistics about teenagers and tanning. I was surprised with the results. Most teens feel that Melanoma is treatable and curable. Others feel tan skin is healthy skin. I wonder how my sons and their friends will adapt their simple requests to use sunscreen as they grow older. I hope awareness of the issues is enough but if not I will show them what pictures of melanoma looks like.
Understanding Skin cancer
Article on Teens surveyed about tanning