I'm just going to start by stating this bluntly: tanning is really bad for you. There's no other way around it, it's unhealthy to the extent that it can actually be deadly. I know it's summer time and most of us have spent the past 4-6 months slowly turning paler and paler and I get it, most of us don't want to look like ghosts when we walk on the beach. That being said, letting yourself take in an absurd amount of toxins just so you can briefly somewhat change your skin color will 100% come with a damaging effect.

UV rays are toxic, that is a fact. Those toxins, can cause serious skin cancer. When I was 15, I had spent most of my life going out and tanning very irresponsibly. One summer I found a lesion on my back, that as it turns out, was contaminated with cancerous cells, and yes, was a result of my own recklessness. That being said, with 2 very quick and easy procedures, I ended up completely fine. However, I have now put myself at a much higher risk for the rest of my life of being susceptible to skin cancer. I put my life in danger so I could be tan and because I was too lazy to put on sunscreen, and that was my mistake, but it does not have to be yours.

Also, tanning is probably going to make you ugly when you're older. I'm sorry it's just true, you will probably end up looking like a leathery raisin. Again, though, this can be avoided. All of this can be avoided much more with a very easy solution: sunscreen. Just wear some god damn sunscreen.

I'm not saying you shouldn't lay out in the sun this summer. It's a great way to relax and enjoy warmth, just wear sunscreen. That's it. You'll probably still get tan and you are that much less likely to get burned or absorb the toxins that come from UV rays. If that doesn't do it for you then get a spray tan. Just don't lay out bare or in tanning oil to get a tan. Like seriously wear sunscreen at this point I feel like that should just be common sense.