why do w.hite people tan?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqC_YXWo5_Qz3nEHCRFjDREjzKIX?qid=20070303214927AAz8cF9

even though it is addictive.


another throwback.

So Chick - I have never met a single person who uses lightening cream. I keep hearing these people are out there. but It can't possible be as common as tanning. and probably not addictive either.

R.O. post your question and I'll answer.

Answer 1

Well, I'll begin by stating the obvious: One reason why people tan can be found in your question. That reason being because it's addictive. It's sort of like exercise in that our bodies produce endorphins when we do either of the two (tan or exercise). Endorphins are chemically related to the drug morphine, so they make people feel grrrrrrreat. They block pain, decrease appetite, and decrease anxiety. Endorphins induce feelings of euphoria, feelings that people want to continue to experience. This results in more and more tanning and more and more exercise. However, tanning and exercise also increase due to people becomming more receptive to the endorphins that their bodies produce.... People continue to increase the duration of tanning and exercise as they become more addicted. One might think this to be a bad thing, but it isn't necessarily. Higher pain tolerance and the increased energy granted by the endorphins allows for more intense and frequent work-outs. And I don't think I need to explain the benefits of exercise. I'll explain the benefits of tanning after I add the following:

Another reason why people tan is to mask blemishes (such as stretch marks, scars, etc...), uneven pigmentation, veins, and so on. But, then again, some people just want to be darker. Reasons for wanting to be darker vary.... There are folks who simply feel more attractive with darker skin. Others are influenced by the media, Hollywood, clever marketing, etc...- all of which tell us that a sun-kissed body is a sexy body (to sell us on dumping our money into their greedy pockets).

Regardless, tanning can be beneficial. And many people are motivated for this reason. Melanin provides natural protection against the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays, and we get more of both when we tan. Tanning is caused by the production of melanin and pigments enlarging in response to the ultraviolet radiation. (UVB rays stimulate melanin production in the body, and UVA rays oxidize that melanin.) More melanin equals more protection (helping to prevent sunburn damage among other things). And more protection equals the ability to spend more time in the sun and reap the following benefits:

---The production of more of those endorphins that I spoke of above and all of the accompanying physical and mental benefits (And they are MANY.),
---The production of vitamin D, which promotes the absorption of calcium into each cell of the body (Studies show that both may play a role in the prevention of cancer and disease. And surely I don't have to explain the benefits of calcium absorption?),
---Due to the production of vitamin D, there is a decreased chance of having a vitamin D deficiency (which is very common in northern European countries where there is far less exposure to the sun),
---Kills many pathogens inside the body, lowers cholesterol, and lowers blood pressure,
---Results in a better quality of sleep and daytime alertness. (Increased sunlight exposure equals circadian rhythms being more in-sync with the environment.),
---Alleviates the appearance and discomfort of psoriasis,
---New evidence suggests that it may combat fungal infections.

I could continue, but I'll conclude by saying that I wish people would stop discouraging others from exposing themselves to sunlight. While it's true that people evolved according to their enviornments (among other things), it's my opinion that those of us who are much less pigmented would have continued to evolve into nocturnal beings if sun exposure wasn't in the cards for us. We shouldn't be encouraging people to refrain from something that we NEED (something that nature obviously intended).

Answer 2

hhmm why do why white people tan? damn its not that hard of a question, maybe because they want a nice even looking sking tone. some white people have nice golden natural skin, some come pale with signs of blood flow or veins showing on there face. so they try to tan to hide some of those features. then every one got all racist and started going back and forth, about black people, how did black people come into the conversation? ggg just cuz this was asked by a black person its now a racist question? if a white guy asked this you would have gave simple answers. see how easy it is to be ignorant and racist, lol, well see ya later.

Answer 3

Well not all white people tan, but up until about 50 years ago being pasty pale was considered the ideal beauty for white people. The culture changed around the 1940s, 1950s, and now tan skin is what the media and our culture accept as the ideal beauty for white people.

Answer 4

Hey, I used to have a black roommate who tanned, too. Went out and worked on her tan. This was back before we were thinking much of skin cancer.

Answer 5

Dude My black friends get red when they stay on a sun for a long time :)

Tell me why there are dark blacks ,light black and why they hate each other ?

Answer 6

Same reason why some darker-haired/skinned people try to lighten certain elements of their body/hair.

Sadly, many people don't take personal pride in what God gave them. They want to switch out what their parents took hundreds of generations to create.

Answer 7

Because they are envious of blacks. They can share the culture but not the struggle.

Answer 8

Does it really matter, brother?

Answer 9

i like sunbathing, it doesn;t make me a racist...dude, i like dark it's lovely

Answer 10

why are you worrying about them.
please worry about yourself.
(i've seen hispanics, blacks, and asians tan too.)