Do Tanning Beds and Sunshine Cause Skin Cancer?
How to Tan Safely and Cheaply for Weddings, Cruises, Special Events
Instant tan is hot for last-minute sun-kissed skin for a wedding or special date. Salons offer non-UV tanning from bottles and spraycans. Special booths spray natural-looking tan onto skin, and, according to the Mayo Clinic’s Web site, the only risk is the possibility of inhaling the chemical or eye irritation. There are home preparations, too, which work well and last for weeks.
“Tanning beds are always evolving,” Angelina Chauvin Vicknair, public relations specialist for Planet Beach a chain of 378 stores worldwide told Maryan Pelland Suite101 writer. “Now there's high-pressure tanning (UVA). Stand-up beds, lay-down beds, leg tanners.”
Her company advises choosing a reputable salon though there are no certifications for tanning providers. You can expect to pay from $25 to $40 a session to tan. Sprays and foams are less. But is there another cost to tanning beds?
Another Side to the the Safety of Tanning?
Human metabolism needs exposure to sunlight for adequate levels of vitamin D. That, says the medical community, prevents bone-attacking disease and may decrease risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, dementia and cancers. Sun-type light is good, right?
Dermatologists, American Cancer Society, America Dermatological Association, and Skin Cancer Foundation all say in their literature that pursuing a tanned skin is harmful, causing nearly all skin cancers.
Indoor tanning, a $2 billion-a-year industry, draws 28 million Americans tanning at 25,000 stores. Use is increasing among adolescent girls, perhaps the reason that, according to dermatologist Dr. Jacqueline Sasaki, 16 states and some countries have outlawed tanning salons for persons under 21.
What Are the Risks?
Sasaki’s SE United States practice, Dermatology Clinic, sees a lot of skin cancer. She says the debate about UVA being better than UVB nails the problem.
“A common misconception thinks beds tans are safe,” Sasaki says. “The American Academy of Dermatology is clear - there is no such thing as safe tan. Bed makers say UVA doesn’t increase skin cancer. Actually, UVA is a bigger culprit for melanoma, atypical moles and photoaging. UVB causes skin cancer, but most deadly forms come from deep UVA.”
Skin, Sasaki points out, over-develops pigment, or tans, as a defense. Tan is a marker of damage already done to skin’s DNA. UV light, regardless of source, causes immediate DNA damage. Cumulative mutations occur within 20 minutes. Darker skin occurs to protect against additional exposure.
While UVA doesn’t cause visible burn, say experts, it does deep damage and reduces vitamin D metabolization.
Sasaki says, “There’s a precursor in skin that metabolizes D in light. Ten minutes’ exposure, a few times a week on arms and face is adequate to maintain normal stores of D in Caucasian skin. Darker skins need maybe 20 minutes. That assumes no dietary vitamin D from foods like salmon, milk.”
Sasaki adds that tanning exposure causes skin immune system depression. The skin is a major immunity organ. She advises limiting exposure to ultraviolet light and using sunscreen outdoors – applied often at the highest SPF tolerable.
Good News
It’s possible to enhance the natural tan color in skin without harm.
“It’s about phytonutrients and antioxidants, like the rest of health,” she says. “You may even reverse harm already done.” Fresh herbs like oregano and turmeric, with gorgeous golden color, enhance skintones. Pomegranate seeds are said to support skin health and protect a bit against sun. Eat pumpkin, squash, carrots and sweet potatoes,” she advises, and foods high in vitamins C and E, like citrus and green peppers.
Read Sunblocks May Protect Against UVA Rays in Suite101 for a lits of products that may help prevent skin damage.
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