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Spring is finally upon us which means getting our bodies toned and tanned for summer’s uniform of shorts, tanks, and swimsuits. Many gyms conveniently have tanning beds in them, allowing you to work out and build up your tan all under one roof. You will also find tanning salons near the nail salon, barber, grocery store, and school offering a walk in session for about the same amount as your favorite Starbucks drink. Laying out in the sunshine is virtually free, but what’s the REAL cost of indoor/ outdoor tanning?
Natural sunlight and tanning beds give off harmful ultraviolet rays. UVB rays penetrate the top layers of your skin and are most responsible for sunburns. UVA rays affect the deeper layers of your skin, triggering melanocytes to make melanin- the brown pigment that causes tanning.
TRUTH: More people develop skin cancer because of tanning than develop lung cancer because of smoking (skincancer.org)
TRUTH: Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a proven human carcinogen [producer of cancer] (skincancer.org)
TRUTH: More than 1 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States every year (American Melanoma Foundation).
TRUTH: Current estimates are that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. 1 in 58 men and women will be diagnosed with melanoma [the deadliest form of skin cancer] during their lifetime. Caucasians and men older than 50 years of age are at a higher risk of developing melanoma than the general population (American Melanoma Foundation)
TRUTH: Melanoma kills one person every 50 minutes. It is the second most common cancer for young adults aged 15-29 years old (Melanoma Foundation New England).
TRUTH: Indoor UV tanners are 74% more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors (skincancer.org)
TRUTH: Tanning causes the skin to lose elasticity and wrinkle prematurely. This leathery look may not show up until many years after you’ve had a tan or sunburn (fda.gov)
TRUTH: UVB radiation may suppress proper functioning of the body’s immune system and the skin’s natural defenses, leaving you more vulnerable to diseases, including skin cancer (fda.gov). [Blogger’s note: this is especially dangerous if you have a preexisting autoimmune disease where your immune system is already weaker than normal.]
TRUTH: Even ONE indoor tanning session can increase users’ risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by 67% and basal cell carcinoma by 29% (American Academy of Dermatology).
TRUTH: Indoor tanning before age 24 increases one’s risk of developing basal cell carcinoma by age 50 (American Academy of Dermatology).
TRUTH: Even people who do not burn after indoor tanning or sun exposure are at an increased risk of melanoma if they tan indoors (American Academy of Dermatology).
TRUTH: Of melanoma cases among 18-to-29-year-olds who had tanned indoors, 76 percent were attributable to tanning bed use (skincancer.org).
We aren’t trying to persuade you to change your lifestyle and make the switch to spray tanning; our mission is to help educate and over time help these numbers decline. Your skin is the largest organ in your body- love, nourish, and cherish it.
Love,
Tanique
Natural sunlight and tanning beds give off harmful ultraviolet rays. UVB rays penetrate the top layers of your skin and are most responsible for sunburns. UVA rays affect the deeper layers of your skin, triggering melanocytes to make melanin- the brown pigment that causes tanning.
TRUTH: More people develop skin cancer because of tanning than develop lung cancer because of smoking (skincancer.org)
TRUTH: Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a proven human carcinogen [producer of cancer] (skincancer.org)
TRUTH: More than 1 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States every year (American Melanoma Foundation).
TRUTH: Current estimates are that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. 1 in 58 men and women will be diagnosed with melanoma [the deadliest form of skin cancer] during their lifetime. Caucasians and men older than 50 years of age are at a higher risk of developing melanoma than the general population (American Melanoma Foundation)
TRUTH: Melanoma kills one person every 50 minutes. It is the second most common cancer for young adults aged 15-29 years old (Melanoma Foundation New England).
TRUTH: Indoor UV tanners are 74% more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors (skincancer.org)
TRUTH: Tanning causes the skin to lose elasticity and wrinkle prematurely. This leathery look may not show up until many years after you’ve had a tan or sunburn (fda.gov)
TRUTH: UVB radiation may suppress proper functioning of the body’s immune system and the skin’s natural defenses, leaving you more vulnerable to diseases, including skin cancer (fda.gov). [Blogger’s note: this is especially dangerous if you have a preexisting autoimmune disease where your immune system is already weaker than normal.]
TRUTH: Even ONE indoor tanning session can increase users’ risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by 67% and basal cell carcinoma by 29% (American Academy of Dermatology).
TRUTH: Indoor tanning before age 24 increases one’s risk of developing basal cell carcinoma by age 50 (American Academy of Dermatology).
TRUTH: Even people who do not burn after indoor tanning or sun exposure are at an increased risk of melanoma if they tan indoors (American Academy of Dermatology).
TRUTH: Of melanoma cases among 18-to-29-year-olds who had tanned indoors, 76 percent were attributable to tanning bed use (skincancer.org).
We aren’t trying to persuade you to change your lifestyle and make the switch to spray tanning; our mission is to help educate and over time help these numbers decline. Your skin is the largest organ in your body- love, nourish, and cherish it.
Love,
Tanique