Tanning Beds Deemed High Cancer Risk
July 29, 2009 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Although people who love to use tanning beds and the beds’ businesses will say otherwise, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the medical community fears the effects of the tanning beds and booths.
They have sounded warnings in the past about the use of tanning beds and booths, but they are still popular among many, particularly the younger adults and teens. The tanning done by this method allows strong ultraviolet rays to hit the skin and cause damage. This damage has a high chance of developing into skin cancer years down the road.
Researchers looked at 20 different studies and, using those study findings, concluded that the risk of skin cancer jumps by 75% when people start using tanning beds before they are 30 years old. The findings of this research were published in the most recent edition of the journal Lancet Oncology.
According to this U.S.A. Today article, Tanning beds now listed among top cancer risks, the sunbed industry disputes this, claiming that there’s never been a link between the two.
Ok, maybe the declaration that tanning beds are on par with mustard gas and arsenic may be pushing it, but it’s not hard to see why the doctors and researchers are concerned. As more young people use these tanning beds, more are being diagnosed years later with a deadly form of skin cancer called melanoma.
We know that too much sun causes skin cancer. We know that it’s the rays that cause it. Therefore, if the rays are used in tanning beds and booths, why do people expose themselves to it and take that risk?
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Photo: Newscom.com
Perhaps Vitamin D – The Sunshine Vitamin which has countless health benefits. Or maybe they are treating other conditions including seasonal anxiety disorder or they may have a skin condition which responds well to tanning. Or maybe they feel good when they are tan and they are tanning responsibily and not concerned about burning. Finally,maybe they enjoy going outdoors and prefer to get a good base tan indoors before risking the everchanging exposure they may get outdoors which may result in sun burn….
Please address the fact that tanners are not ignorant, uneducated people who do not care about their bodies. Everybody has their reasons…. and some of them are very good, smart reasons.