Don't Think Of Using A Tanning Bed

 

Summer is swiftly approaching and you might want to slip in a few sessions at your local tanning salon so you have a tan to start the summer with.  There are all sorts of myths associated with tanning floating around and today, I'll be exploring them since many are total myths and the information is important to staying healthy.

The first thing to keep in mind is that tanning beds are not safer than being out in the sun.  In fact, it has been found that one session in an indoor tanning bed, booth, or sun lamp can increase your chances of developing cancer. Specifically 20% for melanoma, 67% for squamous cell carcinoma, and 26% for basal cell carcinoma. 

When you tan either indoors or outside under the sun, your skin ages faster than without. When you tan, wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity, and age spots appear earlier. When you tan, your skin turns leathery. In addition, the use of tanning beds can lead to burns, loss of consciousness, or injury to the eyes. 

There is a belief that if you have a base tan, you won't sun burn.  This reason is often given for using the tanning bed ahead of warmer weather.  In reality, having a base tan will not prevent sunburn.  In fact, each time you tan or burn, you are damaging the DNA in your skin and the more you damage the DNA, the greater the risk of cancer.  There is research to indicate that if you tan indoors before the age of 30, you have six times higher chance of getting melanoma.

If you've heard that you can use the tanning beds to get your body to produce enough vitamin D to meet daily requirements, that is false. Tanning beds use mostly UVA rays and your body needs UVB rays make vitamin D.  To get enough vitamin D, eat healthier or take a supplement because that is safer.

Believe it or not, but using indoor tanning methods can be addicting.  In a few studies, it has been found that 20 percent of the 18 to 30 year old white women who rely on indoor tanning methods, are addicted to tanning. If they don't get the steady dose of UV rays, they get fidgety or depressed. 

Don't believe the hype that one can hide stretch marks with a tan because stretch marks actually become more noticeable. If you really want to hide them, use a self tanner. Furthermore, too many tanning salons give out the wrong information when it comes to the safety of indoor tanning.  In a study commissioned by the U.S. House of Representatives, it was found that 90 % of the staff at indoor tanning salons gave incorrect information on the health risk for fair-skinned teenage girls.  

You don't need to use a tanning bed to keep a year round tan.  There are lots of self tanners that do the job and are so much safer.  Finally, when you avoid tanning salons, beds, etc, you are lowering your chances of getting cancer thus helping yourself live longer. If you have been tanning via indoor tanning places, quit so you can decrease your risk.  I try not to tan or use tanning salons since I want to live as long as I can.  Have a great week.