The commercials for indoor tanning salons use the adjectives “healthy” and “beautiful”. Melanoma is not beautiful. Solar elastosis, that saggy skin with excessive wrinkling, is not beautiful. Vanity is the sole purpose behind tanning and vanity will ultimately be what you will loose in the end! Brazil, a country known for golden beauties in tiny bikinis has completely outlawed the practice of indoor tanning. Many states within the U.S. and my many countries around the world now prohibit the use of tanning beds by minors under 18.
The CDC has concluded that the use of indoor tanning beds, even for the sole purpose of achieving a base tan, is not a safe or effective way of protecting yourself from the sun. A tan is not safe and bares little difference from a sunburn in that both indicate injury from UV radiation. A tan is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong.
The Truth-
- Indoor tanning causes more cancer annually than cigarette smoking!
- Indoor tanning users are 75% more likely to develop melanoma, than those who do not tan.
As an esthetician I have heard it all:
“But I only use tanning beds containing special bulbs that are not harmful.”
You have been lied to! Even if a tanning bed only used UVA radiation, this is still not safe. UVA radiation is responsible for aging the skin and now there is much more data that links UVA to the development of skin cancers. The person behind the counter at a tanning salon may tell you this myth, unfortunately because of false marketing they may be passing along inaccurate information they have been duped into believing themselves.
"You need vitamin D and tanning beds give you vitamins your body needs."
The average person only needs about 15-20 minutes of exposure to receive enough UV rays for their body to produce vitamin D. A much safer way to receive this vitamin is to eat food rich in vitamin D or foods that have been fortified.
These food sources include:
- Fatty Fish
- Mushrooms
- Cow's milk/Cheese/Yogurt
- Almond Milk
- Fortified Orange Juice
- Egg Yolks
