This humorous image portrays a very real and very serious issue. Those who use a tanning booth are putting their skin, and ultimately their lives, in danger.
Many people consider tan or bronzed skin to be a sign of health and beauty, but they may not know of the dangers that exist with the exposure to UV rays. For centuries tans and sunburns were recognized as being dangerous and undesirable, but in recent history a shift towards desiring tan skin has occurred. Our culture began idolizing the idea of having a tan in the 1920s, and that shift has come at a heavy price. Skin cancer has become much more of a problem, and the amount of skin disease related deaths has greatly increased.
The sun produces three types of ultra violet rays, A, B, and C. UVC is not considered to be harmful or dangerous to the human body, while both UVA and UVB are proven to damage skin and cause life threatening skin cancer. It was once thought that only UVB rays contributed to skin disease, and therefore created the myth that tanning booths, and tanning beds were a safe way to get a tan.
Tanning beds typically produce 97% UVA rays and only 3% UVB rays, which has led people to believe that tanning beds are safe, since UVB rays directly affect the skins surface, while UVA rays penetrate more deeply into the skin. Recent studies, however, show that UVA rays also damage the skin cells on the layer where most skin cancers occur.
There are many different types of skin cancer and UV rays are the lead contributing factor to all of them. While most types of skin cancers are not life threatening, all of them have adverse health affects and greatly reduce quality of life. Although it is one of the least common types, Melanoma is responsible for 74% of all skin cancer deaths, making it the most deadly form of skin cancer.
Unfortunately there is no safe way to get a tan, and being educated on this fact is the first step towards preventing all types of skin cancer. Dermatologists recommend avoiding all types of tanning beds and tanning booths. When spending time outside in the sun, proper protective clothing and sunscreen is recommended as well. If you need a professional opinion on a skin irregularity, contact your local Austin Dermatologist at Four Points Dermatology.
