They're beyond the pale! Take a look at the world's most terrible tans




These days, it could be called the Jersey Shore effect.



But Snooki and crew aren't solely to blame for the obsessively bronzed, sun-scorched bodies terrorizing America's beaches.



Website PaleIsTheNewTan.com has dedicated its pages to lampooning the culture of sun worshippers and sun block abusers across the globe. And the results of their efforts may frighten you.



Too much sun? These two ladies have seem to have spent enough time perfecting their tans

Raccoon eyes, orange streaks and white neck syndrome plague the worst offenders.

Trout pouts, fist pumps, chest flexes and gelled hair are often accessories to the criminal looks. RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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Next See more bad tans at PaleIsTheNewTan.com 'We're like a basketball player on steroids':... Share this article Share Other stars of the cringe-worthy photos aren't those obviously caking on bronzer or spending hours basking in UV rays hoping to achieve a perfect golden glow.

Some have the misfortune of awkwardly-placed sunscreen or swimsuits, leaving zebra stripes of red and white that scream in agony 'Get off the beach!' Jersey Shore effect? Heavy make-up and hair gel are unfortunate accessories to the crime, often attributed to Snooki, left, and her co-stars on the Jersey Shore, not pictured

Dark and oily: Some would call these two 'tanorexic'

Matching tans: The two are sporting the 'perma-shirt' thanks to long days in the sun



Light to dark: Too much - and too little - time at the beach can be quite a head-turner Some just seemed to have fun letting their friends do a slaphappy job, leaving full hand prints or smiley faces where their SPF50 used to be.

Then there are images that inspire pure wonder. One particular man wearing a Speedo parades milky white legs easily 20 shades lighter than his torso, begging the question - has he worn nothing but pants his entire life?

As the site's author points out, even the best of us are not immune to the blotchy bad tan.

But all jokes aside, premature aging and skin cancer can be avoided, the risks of which are exponentially higher for those who spend hours in the sun.



Buff bods: These guys seem to think caking on bronzer is the way to win a medal at their bodybuilding competitions Trout pout: A side-effect of fake tanning can be a delusional sense of self-confidence Odd couple: These ladies' dates might rub off on them later in the night

Tan twins: White neck and hand syndrome has unfortunately affected these pairs

Who's got a bad tan? These guys

According to the American Cancer Society, most of the more than one million skin cancers diagnosed each year in the U.S. are considered sun-related. And contrary to popular belief, getting a tan will not protect your skin from sunburn or other skin damage.

Cancer Research has shown that using a sunbed once a month or more - something that many women consider to be minimal use - can increase the risk of melanoma by 50 per cent.

The first-time use of a sunbed before the age of 35 increases the risk of malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, by 75 per cent.

Two-toned: A couple, left, walks the beach after appearing to have spent years in the sun, while a man, right, stands appearing as though he's never taken off his pants

Earning their stripes: These two serve as warnings to wear your sunblock

Slaphappy: These gentleman seem to have had a little too much fun in the sun

Ouch! These boys' burns are screaming from too much time in the sun - and will soon have odd-looking golden glows to show for it

What happened there? Bad tan lines happen to the best of us

Time to take care of that: These two men don't need to wear a watch or socks, their bad tans take care of that for them

Criminal: It's bad enough they were arrested - but with embarrassing facial burns too

The extra melanin in tanned skin provides a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of about two to four, far below the minimum SPF of 15 recommended by the FDA.



But if you do fall victim to a scorching sunburn, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has offered some recommendations for treatment: cool baths, over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams, and aspirin to ease pain and swelling.

And, of course, if you can't resist - there's always self-tanning lotion. Just don't forget to wear the gloves.

VIDEO: The group have posted this feature on their site with the tag line 'My Strange Addiction' on TLC is pretty entertaining'





