Are you still working on the perfect tan? Stop. Now.  Growing up
in New Jersey in the 1970s, it seemed like there was no such
thing as sunscreen. Sure, Bain de Soleil had an SPF 4 or
something like that-the highest sun-protection factor you could
find was still in the single digits-but my friends and I
slathered on the dark tanning oil, determined to achieve the
"San Tropez Tan" that the product promised. Several of my
friends slicked on baby oil instead, and then surrounded
themselves with tin-foil reflectors to maximize the sun
exposure.  Fast forward a few decades. The link between tanning
and skin cancer is so well understood that little-kid swimwear
comes in long-sleeved styles. Some sunscreens are so thick that
they sit on your skin like chalky armor; the SPF numbers are
higher than most kindergarteners can count. And yet, many
people-especially young women and teenage girls-remain convinced
that the key to a healthy look is an all-over bronze sheen. And
spray-on or lotion-based fake tans don't cut it;