For as long as man kind has been on this planet the sun has been admired and worshipped and held a very special place in our lives. In just a few decades we've gone from antique sun lamps to high tech tanning beds.
For centuries enjoying and working under the sun has been a pastime for people from young to old. In our busy lives it's one of the few free pleasures left that we can still enjoy. There's nothing quite as refreshing and relaxing as a day at the beach soaking up the sun's rays, a swim in the clear blue lake, or an afternoon floating down the river on an air tube. All provide a terrific day of free relaxation and entertainment.
And the world is full of sun worshippers both young and old, from every ethnic culture and from every walk of life. When summer arrives, you'll find these sun worshippers grinning from ear to ear. They are the lucky ones for they don't have to worry because they don't burn. Instead they turn a beautiful golden brown in just a few hours of exposure.
But not every one is that lucky. Fair skinned people, those with freckles, and red heads have to be careful when they head out into the sun as their skin is likely to turn shades of pink not golden brown. That doesn't mean you still can't get out and enjoy the sun as long as you are prepared with a SPF 15 sunscreen or sunblock are a must
In was during the 1920's that the popularity of sun therapy took off as it was prescribed by physicians for everything from exhaustion to tuberculosis. It was also during the 1920s that Coco Channel made tanning a fashion symbol appearing at fashion shows wearing a gorgeous tan to go with those awesome clothes. Sun tanning had become a fashion statement!
The 1930s was when color hit the screens. Soon stars were spending their free time basking in the sun, obtaining that drop dead gorgeous tan that looked so great on the big screen.
By the late 1950s the silver metallic UV reflectors where everywhere. These had become the newest way to enhance your tan.
The early 1960s saw cocoa butter tanning creams replace the years of using baby oil. And when the movie Endless Summer was released in 1964 it took the art of tanning to a whole new level.
The youth of the 1970s were much more interest in instant gratification then their ancestors had been. They wanted tans all year round. They wanted that vacation tan to last from one vacation to the next vacation.
This was also the time when manufacturers were playing with the technology to create a tanning bed. It was in 1975 that the first commercial tanning bed appeared on the market.
By the 1980s indoor tanning salons were on every street corner. And just when the tanning worshipers thought it couldn't get any better in 1987 California Tan launched the first indoor tanning gel which enhanced the tan you got from a tanning bed dramatically.
In 1991 Heliotherapy, a medical form of indoor tanning was introduced to the market. It was used to treat both physical and psychological health issues and excellent improvements were seen in patients suffering from seasonal affective disorder.
By 2000, indoor tanning had grown once again by leaps and bounds. Part of this growth was attributed to all the warnings being issued relating to tanning in the sun. Many felt much safer using an indoor sun lamps. And indoor tanning has become so affordable even the working class can afford enjoy it.
Today days tanning beds also have health warnings attached to them. There has been a direct link established between the increase in skin cancer and the increasing use of tanning beds.
Each year more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States. And there are also 70,000 new cases of the deadly melanoma skin cancer diagnosed.
For the sun worshipper, nothing will stop them from getting that beautiful tan. So the best advice is to tan smart. Always follow guidelines, never extend your tanning sessions, and use a sunscreen. With common sense you can have you health and your beautiful tan using sun lamps!
