Indoor Tanning: Still Dangerous
Indoor tanning is an industry that brings in an estimated $5 billion yearly. But people are paying for the privilege of damaging their skin and increasing their risk of skin cancer.
UVR (ultraviolet radiation) is proven to be a carcinogen in humans, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is composed of differing wavelengths of light, including UVA and UVB rays, and while scientists once believed that UVB rays alone were responsible for the carcinogenic effects of UVR, and UVA rays were responsible only for premature aging of skin, that has proven to be false. The truth is much more complex, and it is now considered dangerous to be exposed to UVA rays as well.
Those who tan frequently, especially using new high pressure UV lamps, can be exposed to 12 times—or more—as much UVA light as a comparable tanner who uses only the sun’s rays. Knowing that tanning under the sun itself is dangerous, this is a startling figure.
There are over 2.3 million teenagers frequenting tanning salons. This is particularly frightening because being exposed to tanning lamps in youth can raise the risk of developing melanoma 75%. And anyone who uses tanning beds is 2.5 times more likely to develop some form of skin cancer.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment