It’s really no secret that spending too much time unprotected from the sun can result in damage to the skin. This damage to the skin can range from a few freckles to even a dangerous skin cancer. Of course, the sun isn’t all bad. It can provide us with the vitamin D that we need, lower cholesterol, and even improve our mood. But oftentimes we go overboard and spend too much time in the sun without skin protection.

We have all heard the lectures on wearing sunscreen, we have experienced the bad burns after spending too much time at the pool, and we have suffered from painful, random burn spots that resulted from missing a spot when putting on sunscreen. We know the consequences that come from harmful UVA and UVB rays. We all heard the statistics while we were growing up, so why don’t we take better care of our skin?

Part of this problem is that we love a good tan. It can feel nice to lay out by the pool and soak in the warm rays. It is relaxing to spend the entire day by the beach, enjoying the sun. But most of all, we are constantly reminded that the tanner you are, the better you look. We see models with perfect tans, reminding us that we must not only be skinny to resemble them, but we must also match their skin tones. We see ads for tanning clubs, suggesting that we need to be members in order to keep up in society.

Between the subtle and not-so-subtle messages about being tan that we are exposed to all the time and even more frequently throughout the summer, it often feels like we can only be beautiful with a glowing tan. So, we go to extremes to achieve the “perfect summer tan," all while discarding everything we know to be true about the harmful effects of the sun.

But what are often not considered in the race to have the nicest tan are the long-term effects of all of this. I know that I have a habit of checking my skin for anything that looks out of place and assuming that I am fine as long as no new moles or spots have appeared. I mean, if I can’t see it, that obviously means its not there, right? It wasn’t until I was shown this video that I began to realize that maybe tanning isn’t really worth it:

Even if the damage done to your skin is not visible to your eyes, it could still be there. Having a nice tan doesn’t always come without consequences, such as dark spots or freckles that will last forever. Dangerous spots that can turn in to melanoma might be there, even if they aren't visible to you quite yet. There can potentially be a ton of unrealized damage, just waiting to reveal itself.

Not only was this an interesting realization for me, but I also began to realize just how important sunscreen is. Throughout life, we have been told that sunscreen is essential and that we should put it on, but seeing how it effectively blocks out the UV rays has completely changed how seriously I take sunscreen. Skin cancer is totally preventable and we have access to a way to prevent it, so why do we continue to risk our lives just for aesthetic reasons?

So, as you go out and enjoy the weather this summer, keep this video in mind. Remember that achieving the perfect tan isn’t everything. Remember that everyone’s skin is different. Know your skin, know your limits in the sun, and put on sunscreen, because tans are temporary but the damage done to your skin is permanent.