<p>As a teenager, I do understand why my friends want to be tan. At least where I live, it’s generally considered an attractive thing-no one goes for the vampire look. Like right now, we’re on February break, and all those who are going to Florida and such will be the most envied when we get back to school next week. I agree with many of you though-I don’t understand how the desire to look dark can overpower the knowledge of how dangerous it is. I know I never would do anything with the intention of becoming more tan, but that may just be because of the horror story my mom told me of finding her little sister asleep under a sun lamp, and the subsequent weeks of her wetting the bed and missing school due to massive blisters all over her body making her unable to move. </p>
<p>As far as my family goes, I have never met someone who tans darker than my father. He always wears sunscreen but turns very, very dark. I’m somewhat similar, I’m pretty careful about my sunscreen use but turn pretty dark anyways. Neither of us ever burn. My mother and brother burn intensely though and are mega pale otherwise. I think my parents would let us tan if we wanted to, but neither of us have any desire to harm ourselves like that.</p>