You Give Sun a Bad Name

It’s not exactly “breaking news” among residents of The Hotel Melanoma that melanoma incidence rates have been rising for at least the past thirty years. A new study recently published in the American Journal of Public Health identifies a number of cultural and historical factors in the past century that have led to increased exposure to UV light, which may explain rising melanoma incidence rates. Check it out here.

Until the turn of the 20th century, tanned skin was associated with lower class status and working outdoors performing manual labor. But by the mid-20th century attitudes had completely reversed and tanned skin started to be perceived as attractive and healthy. This old boomer bought into the notion that you have to be tanned to look good and healthy right up to the day of receiving a Stage 3c melanoma diagnosis. And I still catch myself thinking that my new porcelain pale carcass looks sickly and I often resent the fact that melanoma, and squamous cell carcinoma to boot, have changed my fun times in the sun by forcing me to cover up on the golf course and hiking trails. The sun I used to love is now an object of fear. Oy.

Let’s hope that societal attitudes about tanning start to change soon—otherwise we’re going to have to build several new wings onto this dang Hotel. Until next time, I’ll sign off with the Hotel Melanoma take on Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name”…



Shot through the heart and you're to blame
Mela you give sun a bad name

A painful while is what you spell
U promised me heaven then put me through hell
Days of sun got a hold on me
When tannin's a prison you can't break free

Oh! You're a loaded gun, yeah
Oh! There's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done

Shot through the heart and you're to blame
You give sun a bad name
(Bad name)
I braised my parts and you play your game
You give sun a bad name
(Bad name)
Hey, you give sun a bad name

Paint your smile on your lips
Blood red nails on your fingertips
A fool boy's scream, you act so sly
Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye

Whoa! You're a loaded gun
Whoa! There's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done

Shot through the heart and you're to blame
You give sun a bad name
(Bad name)
I braised my parts and you play your game
You give sun a bad name
(Bad name)
You give sun, oh!

Oh! Shot through the heart and you're to blame
You give sun a bad name
I braised my parts and you play your game
You give sun a bad name
(Bad name)

Shot through the heart and you're to blame
You give sun a bad name
(Bad name)
I braised my parts and you play your game
You give sun a bad name
(Bad name)

You give sun
You give sun
(Bad name)
You give sun oh oh oh oh oh
You give sun
(Bad name)
Y ou give sun
You give sun
(Bad name
) You give sun
You give sun