Summer's coming, the sun is again in the news. The sun protection campaigns have started again. Lucky us, what would we do without them... The Sun is again the number one enemy in our lives. Take cover, the insidious Sun's striking again!

Don't look at me with that taunting expression! I don't say it's not true. It is. The sun is harmful indeed if the right dosage is overpassed. The damage that it produces is enormous — not only skin premature aging and skin cancer but also eye damage (cataracts, which leads to blinding) and immune system suppression and disease. So, the beneficent effects of the sun on the bones structure (the sun is a very good helper in vitamin D synthesis in the body) are overpassed by far by its disastrous effects.

Well, well, what do we have here? A huge amount of people who are just waiting to be lead one way or another by various means. First we were fed with the prosperous image of the bronzed, successful, happy multimillionaire who spends all day by the pool on one of his hundred properties. And we aspired to this condition. Or at least to taste a little what would it feel to be one. So, we all went mad about a little (or more than a little!) tan in the attempt to look (at least!) happy and prosperous. This image became more and more popular until it even changed the beauty standards of our days.

Now, the problem is, we've grown aware of the problems generated by the sun but the public conscience is still intoxicated by the tanned image of happiness! Celebrities support this image, they look tan. But now the concept of “smart tanning” was launched, that is, tanning without UV rays. And here comes the sunless tanning industry, the life-saver of humankind!

Tired of the enormous amount of publicity around sunless tanning products I uselessly tried to find something good about the sun, one opinion that would make a friendlier approach to the sun! Why? Not just because I love the sun and being on the seaside in summer but because I'm against any exaggeration, on either side. Not to mention that I loathe the speculations and the opportunities that some businesses use by exploiting human weaknesses, such as vanity.

Now everybody is supposed to cover themselves up and let no ray of sun on their skin! And put on large amounts of self-tanning lotions instead!

Why wouldn't we try to approach this matter in moderation instead of falling from one extrem to the other. How about that: sun is good in moderation. Enjoy it! Just don't overdo it! It's sunburs that affect our health. There's nothing wrong in taking a little sun in the morning (no later than 9:30-10 am) and in the evening (after 4 pm). But keep in mind that during hot, summer days you should avoid UV exposure at peak hours (even if it's cloudy, as 80% of the UV rays pass through the clouds), use sunscreen, use sunglasses, wear tightly-woven clothes with long sleeves and do everything you can to avoid unwanted problems.

That is, enjoy the sunny season and its benefic effects on health but while doing it in a clever way. I guess that “the really smart tanning” is the one made in moderation, for therapy and for fun (enjoying while doing it!) and not doing just about anything to turn brown by any means and risking funny colored stripes or a “pumpkin” effect and enduring quite an ordeal for a three or four days tan.