Sunbathing : a case of tan now pay later?

Abstract

The sun, the largest and brightest of the stars visible to the naked eye has always been regarded by man, from the earliest days, as a source of energy, good health and happiness. The Plains Indians of the 19th Century used to worship the sun by a most important and spectacular religious ceremony - the Sun Dance. This was held in early summer by each tribe and used to continue for many days and nights, the participants mutilating themselves and getting exhausted to the point of death (1). In an effort to curb such practices, the U.S. government outlawed the Sun Dance in 1904. Nowadays, the Sun Dance is largely over and done with, however, we still 'worship' the sun on our beaches with just as much fervour as the Plains Indians and with just as many mutilating results. It is perhaps high time that we curb such practices rather than tan now and have to pay later at a costly price.