Note: I wrote this piece just prior to learning
about Chelsea Price’s interview on Headline News today. Make no mistake, she’s a true “celebrity of
melanoma!”
If I were a conspiracy theorist, I would think that someone within the
Skin Cancer Foundation created the ultimate public relations coup. Out of the blue, an unwitting New Jersey
tanning addict put skin cancer awareness and anti-tanning campaigns right on
page one! And all of this happened on
the first day of Skin Cancer Awareness Month…assuring at least a few days of
headline-grabbing stories and discussions.
Patricia Krentcil…otherwise known as the Tan Mom (I prefer Mela-Momma) allegedly
took her 6 year old daughter to a tanning salon. It was reported that the young girl (who is light-skinned with red hair!) was sun
burnt and the implication was that the child actually used a tanning bed with
her mother. Both parents deny the
allegations, stating that their daughter got too much sun while simply playing
outside. I suppose it’s for the
authorities to sort out.
If indeed Mela-Momma is found guilty, not only does she have to answer
to her actions, the tanning salon has to explain why they violated New Jersey
law which prohibits children under 14 from using tanning devices. If it’s found that the child never entered a
booth or bed, but was in the same room as her mother as she tanned, the
establishment still has to answer for their actions. And if it’s found that the child sat in the
lobby as Mela-Momma sat in the rotisserie, the salon is off the hook…sort of. When a bar serves a patron too many drinks,
they’re significantly and legally to blame for allowing the drinker to drive
away. Is a tanning salon guilty of the
same if they let an obvious over-tanner continue to bathe in UV radiation? This offers further confirmation of the
Senate findings of the tanning industry’s sleazy actions.
But let’s get back to the anti-hero of our cause. There have been countless articles and
opinion pieces about Mela-Momma. One
good article from MSNBC offers insight to the real damage to skin. And last night, Dr. Drew devoted half of his
talk show to Ms. Krentcil and offered impromptu diagnosis of her addictive
behavior and apparent body dysmorphic disorder.
He had another tanner…an attractive girl named Michelle (I think), that
seemed to showcase the “real” tanner.
But at the same time, she exhibited her own seemingly addictive comments
and really didn’t shed an approving light on tanning at all. (And of course the more attractive Ms. Chelsea Price also
appeared via Skype and made a great positive pitch for sun safety!)
I even had a conversation with my extreme-tanner co-worker today…asking
her not to tan as much as Mela-Momma.
She promised that she wouldn’t (the jury is still out on that).
Tanning has taken a big hit.
Mela-Momma’s shoe-polished flesh will be long connected to the act of
tanning, and it’ll turn people away. At
the same time, this occurs just as Skin Cancer/Melanoma Awareness Month kicks
into gear.
An extreme tanner exposed in May, thus ensuring extended coverage of tanning
dangers and skin cancer. I couldn’t have
planned it any better myself!
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