I’m not gonna lie: I used to frequent tanning beds. However, thanks to the fact that I forgot all my jewelry (including my wedding band) after a visit, and upon going back to get them, they were gone (imagine that) – I have since quit. No one else had the time to get in that bed, but nonetheless, it was gone. That made me mad enough to never go back. Maybe not the best reason to quit, but it worked for me.
Another thing that worked for me: seeing more and more women my age without a deep golden tan. So, I decided if they can do it, I can too. I still get a tan, but I do it via moderate sunning and sunscreen, plus a large floppy hat for my face. Yeah, my face is a different color than my arms, but make-up fixes that.
A recent press release by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) notes that indoor tanning beds can “raise the risk of getting melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 75 percent.”
Here are some more facts about tanning from the AAD:
Who tans indoors?
On an average day in the United States, more than 1 million people tan in tanning salons.
Nearly 70 percent of tanning salon patrons are Caucasian girls and women, primarily aged 16 to 29 years.
Nearly 28 million people tan indoors in the United States annually. Of these, 2.3 million are teens.
In 2010, the indoor tanning industry’s revenue is estimated to be $2.6 billion.
One million people tanning indoors on an average day! Wow! That’s a lot of folks. That’s also a lot of young people. What if the researchers are right? What if tanning beds do cause skin cancer? The future generation is going to have quite a battle on their hands.
Here are some more eye-opening statistics on the AAD website:
Risks of indoor tanning
The United States Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency of Research on Cancer panel has declared ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds and sun lamps, a known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance).
Indoor tanning equipment, which includes all artificial light sources, including beds, lamps, bulbs, booths, etc., emits UVA and UVB radiation. The amount of the radiation produced during indoor tanning is similar to the sun, and in some cases might be stronger.
Evidence from several studies has shown that exposure to UV radiation from indoor tanning devices is associated with an increased risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.
Studies have demonstrated that exposure to UV radiation during indoor tanning damages the DNA in the skin cells. Excessive exposure to UV radiation during indoor tanning can lead to premature skin aging, immune suppression and eye damage, including cataracts and ocular melanoma.
In a recent survey of adolescent tanning bed users, it was found that about 58 percent had burns due to frequent exposure to indoor tanning beds/lamps.
The FDA estimates that there are about 3,000 hospital emergency room cases a year due to indoor tanning bed and lamp exposure.
Well, there are enough findings out there to at least make you think before your next tanning bed visit.
I worked for a dermatologist for close to 12 years. I learned all about skin cancer, how to spot a suspicious looking spot or mole, and more than that, how they are removed. It ain’t that pretty at all. In fact, during the removal of the first skin cancer, I passed out. The cancer was on the chest of an elderly farmer, who had already had many places removed. I also remember removing most of a man’s nose. Such a horrible site and memory. Surgical techniques have improved since the 1970’s, but skin cancer does the same damage.
I’m not a doctor or scientist, so I can’t say for sure what the effects of tanning beds are, but I can advise you to investigate what is out there and make an informed decision on how to tan safely. The information is available.
Talk to your daughters. As parents, it is our responsibility to inform them of the hazards of tanning beds and too much sunning. Be smart. Be safe.
Legislation
On May 2, 2012, Vermont became the second state to ban indoor tanning for those 18 years and younger.
Only 36 states restrict indoor tanning use by minors, despite the call from the WHO to prohibit minors from indoor tanning because of the danger of skin cancer. On Oct. 9, 2011, California became the first state in the nation to prohibit the use of indoor tanning devices for all children and adolescents under the age of 18.
The FDA is considering modifying the classification of indoor tanning beds based on a hearing in March 2010.
More information can be found at: http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/prevention-and-care/indoor-tanning.