Where does our obsession with tanning come from, which lasts even when we know the dangers of

The observation is alarming. Moreover, Skin cancer is among cancers with the highest increase in incidence between 2010 and 2018. Therefore, It has even tripled in 30 years. In addition, However, since 1996, solar prevention campaigns have been carried out each year by the public authorities to alert the dangers of excessive exposure to ultraviolets, responsible for almost 80 % of these cancers.

EAn awareness and recklessness, the French struggle to change their habits. Therefore, The reason? In addition, It lies in the complex and contradictory relationships that we have had for a century, with the sun and tanning. Consequently, For Bernard Andrieu, philosopher of the body, professor at the University of Paris Cité and author of Tanning. Therefore, A little story of the sun. In addition, the skin At where does our obsession tanning CNRS editions, having a tanned complexion still remains today, a symbol of health and success. Moreover, Explanations.

Bernard Andrieu was interested in the history of tanning and gives a striking story of our bodily practices in his work

After centuries of valuation of extreme whiteness, the fashion of tanning appeared in the 20th century. Furthermore, How did this tipping?

There have been several notable moments. In addition, The fashion of tanning appeared in the 1920s in the bourgeois classes. Meanwhile, around Coco Chanel, where does our obsession tanning with the appearance of sea baths and the first leisure stations like Deauville, Biarritz, Nice … In addition, Until then workers, the peasants were tanned. Similarly, Having a tanned complexion was devalued.
Then there was a boom in 1936 with paid leave and the release of bodies. For example, From the 1960s, we went into an era of mass tanning. Similarly, Under the impetus of General de Gaulle. However, we even start to develop the coast to prevent the French from going to sunbathe in Spain.

In 1975, there was a first awareness of the dangers of the sun. Similarly, The American dermatologist Thomas B. However, Fitzpatrick develops a classification of risks according to color and skin type. Behaviors began to change and appeared in the 1990s the concept of solar prevention. From year to year, the sun protection indices have increased: today, the 50 replaced the 30th.

Read : 10, 20, 30, where does our obsession tanning 50… What exactly are the figures of the indices on solar creams?

“Tanning. a symbol of success”

For thirty years, we have therefore passed in the era of solar prevention, but at the same time, the number of cancer has tripled. How do you explain this paradox?

Despite the evolution of knowledge on the dangers of the sun. we continue to want to make your vacation profitable by exposing themselves sufficiently. You still have so many people who catch sunburn at the hottest hours. when we rebuild that the sun must be avoided between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For what ? Tanning has remained a social marker. When we go on vacation, we want to come back tanned. Having tanned skin means that we had the privilege of enjoying leave in the sun. We ultimately have no other indicator than the skin to show it.

Furthermore, misleading speeches on the benefits of the where does our obsession tanning sun for health have not disappeared. It is still estimated today that we must expose themselves very regularly. Fight against depression, contribution in vitamins … beliefs and positive representations on the sun remain very anchored.

The sun is not dangerous only on the beach and during the summer holidays. Why do we always associate solar dangers with this context?

In terms of health. we continue to reason in terms of season and we care about the sun in summer since it is the privileged moment when we bronze, while the danger does not concentrate over two months.

Is the boom of outdoor activities during which we may care less about sun protection also responsible for the increase. in the number of cancer?

The beach is hypertrophied as a place of exposure to the sun. When we are there, the only activity is to expose themselves to ultraviolets. On the other hand. during other activities, where does our obsession tanning such as walking, radiation is the same, but we tend to forget their impact. I am surprised that no one has yet created an application capable of measuring and indicating the intensity of radiation.

Read also: From diaphanous skin to tanned complexion, the great history of bronzette

Appeared a century ago. the culture of tanning continues despite the explosion of skin cancers and awareness campaigns. Photo: Jorge Aguado Martin / Istock

Social networks do nothing …

Yes, because social networks expose us to a continuous flow of images of the body. In where does our obsession tanning a form of competition, everyone wants to show their skin, their body, compare themselves to others … It is the same impact as for obesity and anorexia. As there is not really an aesthetic standard. everyone in their community will want to appear more tanned than the other. In an ideal world. it would be good for social networks to take prevention campaigns and also have health messages spend. They have this ethical responsibility.

A generational problem

Despite prevention, the worship of tanning is therefore not dead …

No way. For anthropological and cultural reasons. People need to compare each other to each other and the cult of beauty continues to go through tanning. It is a generational problem. We must hope that government campaigns and health education will lead to a real awareness in the future. We already see that the generations that have exposed themselves a lot have achieved the importance where does our obsession tanning of protecting children.

With global warming and the multiplication of episodes of extreme heat, can our relationship to the sun change?

Global warming will probably serve this cause. He forces us to protect ourselves more from an increasingly hostile outside world. In the countries of the South, it has existed for a long time, it is cultural. In Spain for example, people take shelter in the hottest hours. We can hope that with the increase in temperatures, the French will also be exposed less. The hot weather will regulate and reduce moments of sun exposure.

Read also: Has tanning become cheesy? This philosopher explains what this addiction says of us

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