Sun Safety Alliance

From Sun Safety Alliance Photos

In an attempt to join the "sun safety" advocacy bandwagon, Teen Vogue published a compelling story which they called: "Cruel Summer, Dying for a Tan". The article is very intelligently written by Beth James. She interviews Kaity Dorsett and Alexa Salvatore, among other teens that have been diagnosed with malignant melanoma. The article points out the terrifying facts that, yes!!! Teens can develop cancer and the article quotes the American Cancer Society in stating that one person dies every hour from skin cancer. Ms. James does a great job informing young adults about the dangers of tanning and the realities behind ultraviolet rays. She stresses the importance of sunscreen and reapplying and using the correct amount of sunscreen as well.

Excellent work Ms. Beth James.



Unfortunately in the same exact issue of Teen Vogue that worked to educate young women about the dangers of skin cancer, Editor in Chief Amy Astley allowed the following image for the spread titled "Summerland":

From Sun Safety Alliance Photos

The accompanying text reads:
"Show off a sun-kissed glow in a chic white bikini."

On June 30th, Rachel Saslow of the Washington Post points out that "A caption mentions that the readers should get that glow with L'Oreal self tanning lotion, but that tiny-type disclaimer does little to offset the hypocrisy".

And Rachel is right. How dare Teen Vogue confuse young girls about sun safety. On one page the magazine educates girls about the terrifying realities of skin cancer and the harshness of the sun. On the next page the magazine is taunting the girls with sexy pictures of sun kissed models in skimpy bathing suits under the hot sun; clearly not showing any signs of practicicng Sun Safety whatsoever.


Amy Atsley, we ask you to please use your magazine as a tool to fight skin cancer. Do not send mixed messages to our children. We thouroughly enjoyed your article on melanoma and look forward to more truthful and educational write ups. These enrich the minds of our easily influenced young ones. Yet on the same note, please be careful of the images that you are selling to the same persuadable audience. Skin cancer is real, as your own article points out, and images such as these simply encourage girls to get out to the beaches and soak up some sun. They hinder the reality of skin cancer and give them the impression that, "That sort of thing can't happen to me".

When it can.

And it will.



Please protect yourselves today folks.