Healthy is the new tan: new law banning youth tanning welcomed in P.A.

Here in Prince Albert, people of all ages have already been turned off of tanning.

Brynn Ursu, a grade 12 student from St. Mary High School, was 14 years old when she went on a family vacation to the tropics. But before heading off, she decided to get a pre-tan.

Now 17, Ursu has changed her mind when it comes to tanning.

“If you’re that age, you probably don’t realize the risk you’re even putting yourself in. It’s good to hear that they won’t be able to (tan) young little girls like I was,” said Ursu. “Somebody’s out there standing up for people who are probably that naïve.”

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, Melanoma is the most common type of cancer for young people between the ages of 15 and 29.

In school last year, Ursu said her class learned about the risks of tanning.

“I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, I didn’t realize it could be that hard on your skin,’” she said. “Of course we put sunscreen on, but when we go (indoor tanning) we don’t really think of it in the same way.

“So ever since I learned how hard it can be (on your skin), and all these stats about melanoma, I’ve never gone back.”

When she was younger, Ursu said at first, her parents didn’t encourage her tanning.

“Of course my mom told me I didn’t need to do it, she said I would get tan there, but I was being stubborn and said I didn’t want to be that glowing white when I got off the plane,” said Ursu.

Her mom eventually allowed her. Now, Ursu isn’t happy she did it.

“It’s all for the image you’ll give off, the nice glow in the middle of winter, but really, it’s not going to be worth it,” she said. “You’re doing this to impress people who, when you’re sick with this melanoma in 30 years, they’re not going to matter anyway.”

Donna Dalziel, founder of the Prince Albert Youth Travel club, has travelled to many sunny countries around the world.

“Because I’m a redhead, I didn’t want to burn the minute I went out in a hot, warmer climate,” she explained, saying she also used to pre-tan prior to a vacation. “I don’t think any of us knew the dangers when we used to do a fair bit of tanning.”

Now, Dalziel has changed her view as well.

“In the past several years, now that I have more knowledge, I’ve chosen not to (tan),” she said.

She too supports the law, although she thinks it may be pushing the boundaries of freedom.

“Does government try to come in and control just too much? Yes it does,” said Dalziel. “But when it comes to health, someone needs to be doing some of the control.”

This year, the Travel Club is heading to Australia over Easter break and Dalziel said they’ve put a focus on sun protection at their meetings.

“We have health professionals come and talk to us about that,” she explained. “And we’ve always stressed, in the past several years, that sunscreen is your best ally, not a pre-tan.”

Overall, Dalziel hopes a change in law will bring a change in attitude.

“I think people need to quit judging. Quit judging that the tan is the way we’re supposed to look, that the skinny is the way you’re supposed to look,” she said. “You’ll be on a beach and someone comes with a really great tan and you go, ‘Wow, look at that tan.’ Someone comes by pearly white, ‘Are you kidding me?’ We judge.”

“We have to start appreciating our bodies as they are.”

asoloducha@panow.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha

by Alex Soloducha

Healthy is the new tan: new law banning youth tanning welcomed in P.A.

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