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Hot or not--evaluating the effect of artificial tanning on the public's perception of attractiveness.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Chung, VQ; Gordon, JS; Veledar, E; Chen, SC
Published in: Dermatol Surg
November 2010

BACKGROUND: Despite strong evidence that sun exposure causes skin cancer, a significant proportion of the population continues to purposefully tan. Many individuals deliberately tan because they believe a tanned complexion makes them appear more attractive. OBJECTIVE: To measure the effect that a tanned complexion has on the public's perception of attractiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five women aged 21 to 35 were recruited. A digital photograph was taken of each subject. Each image was uploaded onto a public website until it had been rated at least 100 times on a scale from 1 to 10. An average baseline, or untanned, rating of the image was calculated. The image was then given an artificial tan using a skin tanning protocol available for Adobe Photoshop. The tanned image was then re-uploaded onto the website and another average rating was calculated using the same criteria. RESULTS: The mean score±standard deviation was 6.3±2.3 for the untanned images and 6.5±2.3 for the tanned images (p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The population who logged onto the website considers tanned people to be more attractive.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Dermatol Surg

DOI

EISSN

1524-4725

Publication Date

November 2010

Volume

36

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1651 / 1655

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • Sunbathing
  • Skin Pigmentation
  • Perception
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Dermatology & Venereal Diseases
  • Beauty
  • Adult
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Chung, V. Q., Gordon, J. S., Veledar, E., & Chen, S. C. (2010). Hot or not--evaluating the effect of artificial tanning on the public's perception of attractiveness. Dermatol Surg, 36(11), 1651–1655. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1524-4725.2010.01713.x
Journal cover image

Published In

Dermatol Surg

DOI

EISSN

1524-4725

Publication Date

November 2010

Volume

36

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1651 / 1655

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • Sunbathing
  • Skin Pigmentation
  • Perception
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Dermatology & Venereal Diseases
  • Beauty
  • Adult