Kuwait Times

Published Date: July 23, 2010
By Sawsan Kazak, Staff Writer

It's summer, and that can only mean one thing: the quest for the perfect tan. Girls and guys alike are heading to the beach, pool or even their balcony, slathering on the cream and waiting patiently for their skin to take in the sun. We have all heard of the dangers of sun exposure and the possible disease we will encounter, but that has little affect on those determined to obtain the perfect shade of brown.

It sounds simple enough, sit in the sun and your skin will change colors. But it is not that simple; it is actually difficult to do it right. The art of tanning involves a lot of planning and understanding of balance. The first few tanning sessions are crucial and need to be accomplished with much finesse. The skin is still raw and will, most likely, react adversely to extreme sun exposure.

Unfortunately most people, including myself, do not perform the art of tanning correctly. The first time in the sun, we usually get greedy. We sit there for hours covered in with oils and expect to turn a golden brown within the first visit. Of course, while you are in the sun or the water, you cannot tell how much coverage you are getting. The discovery comes only hours later when you look in the mirror and see a huge lobster staring back at you; you have gone too far. It wouldn't be so bad if you were ev
enly burnt all over, but you will notice that there are some areas of your body that have been affected more than others. Your nose, forehead and shoulders are not only absolutely raw, they are in pain. You moisturize to try to heal the skin, but to no avail.

Now that you have acquired third degree sunburn, you will be forced to suffer the consequences of your greed. You will not be able to have a good night's sleep as any contact with the over-exposed areas will cause you extreme amounts of discomfort and pain. When the skin ceases to hurt and finally turns brown, it will start to peel making you look like a snake shedding its winter skin (disgusting). Not the look that you were aiming for and still not having learnt your lesson, you will think attempting anot
her tanning session is a good idea. You will get back out there, slather on even more oil and attempt to cook your skin the same way you would a chicken. This, in turn, will only cause more pain, uneven tan lines and even more redness. This vicious cycle will go on for the whole summer.

The art of tanning needs more skill and patience than that. Tanning sessions need to be short and well distanced apart and protection needs to be used on the extremities. If you can avoid the greedy nature of tanning and the impatience that comes with it, you might eventually acquire the perfect shade of brown.
sawsank@kuwattimes.net