There was a time when tanned skin was considered the ultimate accessory when it came to fitness, health, and looking great. Women and girls of all ages spent their summers stretched out on lawns, beaches, and boardwalks, searching for that perfect shade of bronze. Men were teased for sporting "farmer's tans" instead of the sought-after all-over glow of a tan back and chest.Today, tan is still considered sexy – but unfortunately science has proven to us that sun-damaged skin is anything but. The same UV rays that cause our skin to generate melatonin and "tan" also lead to accelerated rates of skin aging and an increased risk of skin cancer – especially when exposure occurs when a person is very young. Any teenage girls in teeny-weeny bikinis come to mind?Sunscreens were developed to remedy this issue, but unfortunately chemical sunscreens bring a new host of issues. Early sunscreens protected from the UVA rays which were causing sunburns and reddened skin, but failed to block the cancer-causing UVB rays – and now that people could stay out in the sun without burning, UVB exposure increased significantly! Today that problem has been addressed, but scientists are still divided when it comes to the safety of chemical sunscreens. There are even suspicions that certain chemicals may INCREASE rates of skin cancer rather than lowering them – a sobering possibility when slathering SPF 35 on your young child.Particulate-based sunscreens offer an alternative to chemicals, using a combination of zinc oxide and other minerals to reflect some of the sun's rays away from the surface of the skin. These sunscreens are much safer, but tend to be less effective at levels that are not visible upon the surface of the skin – and very few people want to be coated in white goop all summer long!Another sunscreen alternative is coconut oil, which improves the quality and suppleness of skin while imparting a natural SPF 15. Coconut oil does not stop skin from tanning, however, and may be less effective when it comes to the non-cancerous aging properties of UV rays. However, coconut oil has been used by traditional equatorial societies for millennia, and may be the safest and most effective option for people with naturally dark skin.If you really want to protect yourself and your children from the dangers of UV rays, a large, wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves are the safest way to go. But remember: the sun encourages the natural production of Vitamin D within our bodies, and is necessary for optimum health and development. So don't sell yourself short!