HealthTip: Tanning. A Quest for Beauty

Many young women and men use tanning beds or tan outside to get that perfect sun-kissed glow, but not all realize that they are putting themselves at risk of developing serious health problems; some know the risks but continue to tan anyways. Here are a few facts that may help you make a more educated decision before choosing an option that may have serious consequences.
Indoor tanning is associated with a higher risk of developing melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Tans are caused by UV radiation from the sun or tanning lamps. This radiation can damage cells in the skin and possibly cause them to change, increasing the risk of developing skin cancer. Melanoma is the leading cause of death from skin disease. According to the skin cancer foundation, indoor tanning before the age of 35 years raises the risk of melanoma by 75%. Other common risk factors for melanoma include:

• Living in sunny climates or at high altitudes
• Long-term exposure to high levels of strong sunlight, because of a job or other activities
• One or more blistering sunburns during childhood
• Use of tanning devices
• Family history of melanoma

So before you hop into that tanning bed or choose tanning oil over sunscreen, you may want to do your own research into melanoma and the risk of developing cancer.

Information Sources:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/videos/news/tanning_dangers_051311.html
http://www.skincancer.org/the-skin-cancer-foundation-in-the-news.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001853/