I used to frequent the tanning bed quite
often when I was a young'n. I found it really helped reduce the appearance of
my acne scaring. BUT now, I truly know how damaging they are. I have been
through so many awful experiences with friends, bad burns, and skin cancer
scares. It is just not worth it.
That's why I
started offering spray tanning. I know how rockin' an awesome tan can really
boost your confidence. It improves the appearance of scars and stretch marks,
highlights muscle tone and helps give you a leaner look, you look well rested
and refreshed, your teeth look whiter....I could go on and on. And I give my
clients those results in under 15 minutes with a SPRAY TAN and its INSTANT.
I also wanted to
share the true dangers of tanning beds. You hear people say things like, "its nice to have that 20
minutes of relaxation in the tanning bed.” Or “Its warm and its like a little getaway."
Or, "Its a good source of Vitamin D. I always feel better after having a
tan." Well- here is a good suggestion, Try yoga or meditating. That's a
nice 20 min breather to yourself. Or take some vitamin D supplements, take a
walk outside, it may be cold right now, but its totally worth it rather than
experiencing this.....
“See those goggle marks around her eyes? They’re a dead giveaway
of a tanning-bed baker. If she had skipped the fryer, her whole face would be
as clear of damage as those reverse raccoon eyes are! Regular use of tanning
beds escalates sun damage big time. It actually quadruples the risk of
developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, according to a study
from the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Cancer Center and School of Public
Health. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, an affiliate of the
World Health Organization, lists ultraviolet (UV) tanning devices among the
most dangerous cancer-causing substances. Feeling guilty about having tanned
back in the day? Don’t worry too much. The risk of melanoma depends more on how
much a person tans than on their age.”
Are tanning
booths less dangerous than tans from the sun? The fact is that the UVA rays
that are emitted from the Ultraviolet A light sources in tanning salons are two to three times more powerful than the UVA rays which occur naturally from the sun.
What are
the long-term effects of UV exposure?
Over time, the
effects of too much UVA exposure can lead to eye damage, immune system changes,
cataracts, wrinkles and premature aging of the skin, and skin cancers. Look at
your own skin and compare areas such as the front of your hands and your face
to areas that are almost never exposed to solar radiation. The difference in
skin texture, tone, wrinkles, ect. that you see are caused by exposure to the
sun.
Skin cancer is
the most common form of cancer and approximately 90% of all skin cancers can be
traced to UV exposure. Skin cancer most often occurs on the face, and almost
never on the buttocks, inner thighs, or under the arms. The three main types of
skin cancer are melanoma, basal-cell carcinoma, and squamous-cell carcinoma.
Malignant melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and its incidence is
rapidly rising in men and women under 40.
Warning
Signs of Skin Cancer
As with many
cancers, early detection and treatment offers your best chance of remission and
survival. Here are some signs that may indicate skin cancer:
§ A skin abnormality that
increases in size and appears multicolored, pink, red, black, brown, tan,
pearly, translucent, or tan.
§ A mole that changes color,
textures, grows, becomes irregular in shape, or that is bigger than a pencil
eraser.
§ A spot or growth that
continually itches, hurts, becomes crusty, scabs, or bleeds.
§ An open sore that does not
heal after 4 weeks or one that heals and reopens.
Anytime you are
concerned about a growth or spot on your skin, it is best to seek the advice of
your physician.
Protecting
Your Skin
Most of us know
the importance of using a sunscreen to help prevent damaging rays from
penetrating our skin. Using the proper SPF for your skin type and circumstances
may lower your risk of skin cancer, however sunscreens will not undo damage
that has already been done to your skin.
Those who seek
their tans from tanning salons should be aware of recent research classifying
tanning booths as a known carcinogen and keep these points in mind:
§ Those who burn easily or
never tan in the sun should not use tanning salons.
§ Check with your pharmacist
for possible drug interactions.
§ UV radiation can aggravate
cold sores in people who are prone to them.
§ Always use the protective
goggles which should be available at the tanning salon. Your eyes can be
severely burned by the intense UV rays emitted by the light source.
Sources:
womenshealth.about.com
Canadian Cancer
Society
