Tanning...help!

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SacredOlvo

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Is tanning a sin? Catholic people around me (my family included) are totally against it, and say it’s changing the body that God gave you. They then go on to say it’s like getting piercings, tattoos, etc. except that it’s worse because it gives you cancer.

Now I would never nor have gone to a tanning salon, but in the summer, I do enjoy laying out, and catching some rays, and getting some color. It actually makes me feel good too. Any help would be appreciated.
 
God made our skin so that it gets tan when exposed to the sun. It is a protection mechanism. Men and women work outside for may valid reasons.

What might be sinful is the reason for tanning-- and the purposeful laying out in the sun excessively for no reason-- is it to show off your body, a misplaced focus on appearance, etc? Then, it might be sinful.

Overexposing yourself to the sun could lead to cancer. If this happens because you work outside for your job then it’s something you didn’t have total control over (short of getting a different job). But, remember God made man and he made our skin function the way it does. It’s not a sin to be in the sun.

If you lay in a tanning booth or on the beach specifically to get a dark tan then you own some of the culpability of purposely exposing yourself needlessly to damaging rays.

You laying out in your yard to enjoy a sunny afternoon once in a while is not sinful.
 
SacredOlvo said:
Is tanning a sin? Catholic people around me (my family included) are totally against it, and say it’s changing the body that God gave you. They then go on to say it’s like getting piercings, tattoos, etc. except that it’s worse because it gives you cancer.

Now I would never nor have gone to a tanning salon, but in the summer, I do enjoy laying out, and catching some rays, and getting some color. It actually makes me feel good too. Any help would be appreciated.
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IMO no, tanning is not a sin. My caveat would be that many things which are not sinful in and of themselves CAN be sinful if taken to the extreme or if done for the wrong reason. For example someone who takes excessive pride in their personal appearance and tans constantly to make themselves more attractive MIGHT be sinning. To get a specific answer to a specific situation you should consult a Priest.
 
I feel exactly the same way that you do. I think laying out in the summer is different than going to a tanning salon, because you are enjoying the sun which God gave us. I also don’t see the problem with “changing” your body. You do that when you cut your hair, wear nail polish, shave your legs, wear make up, etc.

I am sure that you are not laying out in the sun because you want to endanger yourself. I think provided you don’t do it excessively and use a light sun tan lotion (I like an SPF 8), you can enjoy the sun in moderation like anything else that is good in life.

Although…this kind of reminds me of the stories of my dad who was a redhead and very fair skinned. Even though there was NO chance that he would get anything other than a sunburn, he used to like to lay out in the sun just to get my grandma all worked up about it.
 
I enjoy lying out in the sun. It makes me feel peaceful. Why would anyone have a problem with that?
 
SacredOlvo said:
Is tanning a sin? Catholic people around me (my family included) are totally against it, and say it’s changing the body that God gave you. They then go on to say it’s like getting piercings, tattoos, etc. except that it’s worse because it gives you cancer.

Now I would never nor have gone to a tanning salon, but in the summer, I do enjoy laying out, and catching some rays, and getting some color. It actually makes me feel good too. Any help would be appreciated.
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From a medical point of the view the downside is that it might give you skin cancer, the upside is that it protects against auto-immune diseases like psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. Those who receive very little sunlight are also at risk of diseases like rickets.

Since a tan is a natural response to light it is distinguished from piercings and tattooings, which are themselves in a dubious zone. Moralists disagree on whether they should be permitted.

In Britain tanning salons are often fronts for brothels.It might be different elsewhere.
 
NO!!

For me, the best part of summer is being in the sun. I love walking in the sun, reading in the sun, napping in the sun, gardening in the sun, and even working in the sun. Yes, I have been known to set up my computer OUTSIDE so I can continue to work!

Afterall, God designed our bodies to make Vitamin D from the sun!!
 
Everything in moderation. As long as this does not lead to some kind of ego or vanity issues, surely there is nothing wrong with being outside and enjoying God’s creation.
 
A sin? No.
However, I would consider how you will look as you age.
I had a friend once who at 22 was a bronzed, blonde beauty and deliberately tanned herself to continue looking that way.
By 55, she looked 65, she bleached her hair and her skin looked like leather. She was no longer attractive.
Think about it.
Use a cream bronzer.
 
Malcolm_McLean said:
From a medical point of the view the downside is that it might give you skin cancer, the upside is that it protects against auto-immune diseases like psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. Those who receive very little sunlight are also at risk of diseases like rickets.

Since a tan is a natural response to light it is distinguished from piercings and tattooings, which are themselves in a dubious zone. Moralists disagree on whether they should be permitted.

In Britain tanning salons are often fronts for brothels.It might be different elsewhere.
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Could you tell me where you found the information that the sun protects against auto-immune diseases? I have always enjoyed the sun and absolutely hate the winter. I have MS so I’m not quite sure of this theory.

In fact, my former husband who also enjoyed the sun had a very bad case of of psoriasis. It was so bad it was quite embarassing for him.

To the answer the question do I think tanning is a sin, no. 👍
 
I wouldn’t think it is. In fact when I do tan, I sometimes listen to the rosary or something of the like on my iPod. This may seem strange but sometimes I even pray because I can be relaxed and it is usually quiet (unless you are by a public pool or something). I tend to pray everywhere, though! Whenever I feel the need! But I don’t think tanning would be a sin, no.
 
MSGirl said:
Could you tell me where you found the information that the sun protects against auto-immune diseases? I have always enjoyed the sun and absolutely hate the winter. I have MS so I’m not quite sure of this theory.
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Vitamin D. It’s good for you 👍

There’s plenty of reading material out there, but I don’t have a subscription to PubMed or anything like that. Here’s a quick link I found.
 
I really worry about people who can turn anything around and make a sin out of it.

As Exoflare said, it may be a complete waste of time, but it beats sitting on the couch eating potato chips and watching TV (even EWTN).

When I was young, I was naturally underweight. A little tan in the summer made me look a little less thin. I love laying in the pool on my air mattress reading a book or laying on the beach reading a book and watching people. Jumping waves is the best. 😃 Oh, then there’s walking on the beach, very healthy.
 
As someone that has had skin cancer I won’t say it is a sin. But it is probably unwise.
 
SacredOlvo said:
Is tanning a sin? Catholic people around me (my family included) are totally against it, and say it’s changing the body that God gave you. They then go on to say it’s like getting piercings, tattoos, etc. except that it’s worse because it gives you cancer.

Now I would never nor have gone to a tanning salon, but in the summer, I do enjoy laying out, and catching some rays, and getting some color. It actually makes me feel good too. Any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
“And he thou exposed himself willingly to direct sunlight shall fall into the pit of sin.” Mark 18:5 C9 Says the Bible…not.

It is more of a sin to think if tanning is a sin than tanning is a sin in itself. NO IT IS NOT A SIN! As was suggested earlier, people who deliberately try to find a sin out of anything, are worried individuals. Tanning would only be stupid for someone with Skin Type 1, which doesn’t allow the skin to produce melanin. As all other skin types, moderate sun exposure is actually good for you. Not only is it the most abundant form for us to produce Vitamin D, but the ability to produce a tan, is the most important part of us in NOT getting skin cancer!
 
Hippie4Peace said:
"A Not only is it the most abundant form for us to produce Vitamin D, but the ability to produce a tan, is the most important part of us in NOT getting skin cancer!
I agree that it is not a sin but I wonder about the rest of your statement. My cousin tanned a lot and she developed cancer. My mom was told by her doctor that her skin cancer was caused by her exposure as a young woman to the sun rays. So I don’t understand your statement that it protects against skin cancer.:confused:
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I tan generally to get a base tan for the ballpark since my dd players weekend ball in months of May & Junel. I think I look better tanned, but not for somebody else, but myself. So NO its not a sin in my books.
 
I don’t know if it’s a sin, I wouldn’t think so. But . . . you might ask a dermatologist if it’s a good idea. I’ll be surprised if he says it is.
 
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