Indoor Tanning: Is It a Yes or a No?
Know the Risks Involved with Indoor Tanning
We are constantly bombarded with new innovation and technology to ease up our lives. For example, in tanning, technology found us a way to get a tan indoors. It promises a safer, faster and convenient way of getting a healthy sunkissed look. But many people have different opinions on this issue. Is tanning indoors really safe? What are the experts' thoughts on this?
Let us break the issue down based on multiple studies.
Risks of Indoor Tanning
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- Indoor tanning's artificial light sources emit ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation in the same amount or, in some cases, much stronger than what the sun produces.
- Multiple studies conducted by several experts revealed that relative exposure to ultraviolet radiation is associated with increased risk of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
- The World Health Organization's International Agency of Research on Cancer has concluded numerous times that ultraviolet radiation produced by the sun and indoor tanning equipment produces carcinogen, a substance capable of causing cancer.
- Indoor tanning can increase the user's chance of developing carcinoma, one type of skin cancer.
- Frequent exposure to ultraviolet radiation also causes addiction to tanning knowingly and unknowingly and causes premature skin aging.
- Indoor tanning is not a safe way of getting Vitamin D. Vitamin D can only be acquired through supplements and eating food rich in it.
Why Is Tanning So Popular with Younger People Especially Women?
According to research, indoor tanning is so popular with younger women and teenage girls. One of the main reasons is that they believe that tanning makes them look more beautiful and healthier and more popular. As you may have read, ultraviolet radiation is dangerous no matter where they come from.
We patronized indoor tanning because of the convenience it gives us, thinking it is much safer than sun tanning. Indoor tanning use in the United States is widely supported by approximately 7.8 million adult women and 1.9 million adult men, and nearly 70 percent of tanning salon patrons are Caucasian girls and women.
Some experts want radical solutions to ban younger people from entering tanning salons.
"We are looking for legislation that prohibits kids from going to tanning salons. It's protecting our youth from something potentially harmful," said Dr. Sophie Balk, lead author of the statement written by an American Academy of Pediatrics committee.
For further protection against the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, here are some points to remember:
- Always apply sunscreen to your body, especially to exposed parts. There are many affordable and handy sunscreen products. Always remember that the higher the sun protection factor (SPF) number is, the longer the protection would last.
- Prevention is better than cure. So it is ideal to avoid sun exposure, especially during the peak hours of ultraviolet radiation between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet rays.
- Wear protective clothing such as long sleeves, pants, jackets, caps and wide-brimmed hats.
- When you find yourself under the heat of the sun, seek for the nearest shade.
- Avoid tanning beds and sun lamps.
