In the 19th century, women disdained tanned skin and considered freckle-free skin the feminine ideal. But nowadays, to be bronze is thought to be beautiful and healthy, Johnson said. And this cultural bias is especially unfortunate in light of the sun's harmful effects on the skin.
Tanning is the skin's response to the insult of the sun's rays.
It's always going to be to the outermost layer of the body - the skin. The damage caused by unprotected exposure to ultraviolet radiation is quite serious and can lead to precancerous, or even cancerous, lesions. The real danger is melanoma, which can metastasize, or spread, into the lungs and other organs throughout the body. To be bronze and beautiful when you're young may mean having a leathery face when you're older, Johnson said. Parasols are unlikely to catch on these days, but Johnson said people should protect themselves from the sun just the same.