Take A Look At Your Own Behind ...

Through the window of the Cafe where I sat this morning. I saw a middle aged couple walking by, heading for the beach. They, especially the woman, looked like a red Indian, and no doubt must be in great physical pain. Year after year during summer, I often marvel at seeing so many people with their skin a crimson red, looking like an overcooked lobster, and their faces showing the pain they suffer silently, almost heroically. Yet, under their arms they are still carrying the beach-mat and other paraphernalia they need making for the beach, again, with the self deceiving belief that, using heavier dose of sun cream their skin would get used to the sun after exposing it a couple more times. More than talking about the biology of the skin, it's really the sociology we are dealing with, that the suntan, apart from being considered sign of health and beauty, stands for an elevated self esteem and higher social class. Because you have to have free time, and plenty of it, to be able to get brown on the beach instead of slaving in the work places. This also means that you have enough economic means to do so. Not that going to the beach costs much money, but not working and therefore not earning does. There's also that hidden psychology, that satisfaction you feel when you write those 'Wish you were here' postcards at the beach to your friends perspiring in their jobs. To culminate all that and sum up your privileged capability of having been lazing away a couple of weeks at the beach, must be rather smug, and what better proof is there than showing off your well tanned skin? You might even be quite aware of the harm too much sun could cause, including the dreaded skin cancer, which has increased steadily over the years, now to an alarming figure. The sacrifice is too huge for upholding the false cultural value that brown is beautiful. That is only a man-made standard encouraged by the commercial industry, the hundreds of sun products, the before and after creams, sprays and lotions, the eye masks, the lip balms, etc, etc. Not all that many years ago, the elegant pale skin was fashionable for a long time, and all face powders come in white only. Sun soaked skin labels you as of peasant class, having to labour under the sun for a living. I do think there is a happy and healthy middle path solution to avoid serious damage to the skin. When you can't see your own shadow, or when your shadow is shorter than your height. Hide from the sun. If you are not totally convinced about all this, stand in front of a long mirror, holding another hand-mirror, turn and take a look at your bottom: doesn't the skin there look smooth, young and wrinkle free? Tags:suntan,bottom

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