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The truth about tanning in beds
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, a branch of the World Health Organization) conducted a thorough review of all available worldwide data - 19 international studies - and found a strong association between tanning bed use and melanoma risk. Across all age groups, males and females who have ever used tanning beds have a 15 percent higher risk of developing melanoma. More alarming still, based on seven worldwide studies, people who first use a tanning bed before age 35 increase their risk for melanoma by 75 percent. "This new research substantiates what we've believed for years about the danger of indoor tanning," said Perry Robins, MD, president of The Skin Cancer Foundation. "It clearly increases the risk of skin cancer, especially in young women, who are the largest group of users." In addition, this study found that the risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is significantly increased in teens after their first use of tanning beds. SCC is the second most common form of skin cancer and accounts for 2,500 deaths a year. Of the three major skin cancers, it is the one that has most clearly been linked to cumulative lifetime ultraviolet exposure. In fact, a 2002 study from Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that people who use tanning beds are 2.5 times more likely to develop SCC than those who don't use tanning beds. If the threat of melanoma isn't enough to scare teens away from tanning booths, they should know that 90% of visible skin changes commonly attributed to aging are really caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) accelerates the signs of aging, including wrinkles, leathering and fine lines, which can be seen as early as in one's 20s. Yet many young women continue to contribute to the $5 billion dollar tanning industry. Vitamin D Dilemma Promoters of sun beds tout the benefits of tanning as a source for Vitamin D. While it is widely known that Vitamin D can have many health benefits, it is also known that UV radiation is a human carcinogen and does cause skin cancer. Vitamin D can easily be obtained from oily fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines) and cod liver oil as well as from fortified orange juice and milk (both with 100 IU per 8 oz.), yogurts, and some cereals such as Kashi, Grape Nuts and Total (100 IU per serving). Finally, supplements are readily obtained and inexpensive. The "Base Tan" Myth The assumption that a tan offers protection against sunburn is false. A tan generated by ultraviolet light offers, at best, a very low level of protection against sunburn. You first have to damage your skin to get a tan, which obviously defeats the whole "protective" purpose of tanning. A tan is a biological signal by the skin that DNA damage has occurred. Go With Your Own Glow In addition to the obvious health risks associated with tanning beds, tanning as a lifestyle is over. Fashion and beauty insiders agree that today, it's all about natural beauty. "Tanning as a life priority is over," says Lois Joy Johnson, fashion and beauty director, MORE magazine. "We all need to pay attention to being healthy and having healthy skin, not changing our skin to another color." The Skin Cancer Foundation is launching its first nationwide public awareness, "Go With Your Own Glow," to empower people to be comfortable in their own skin and encourage luminous, radiant skin as the new beauty and fashion ideal. "The goal is to change the way people think about tanning," says Dr. Perry Robins, president of The Skin Cancer Foundation. "Once people stop linking their self esteem to tanned skin, we will really begin making headway in the fight against skin cancer." |
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