Tanning - Getting More Than You Bargained For

Patients might accuse me and other dermatologists of sounding like broken records when it comes to the subject of tanning.  We can’t help but be passionate about this particular issue.  In my work, I am constantly faced with removing pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions from patients.   These lesions, caused by UVA and UVB ray exposure, could potentially be life threatening and/or lead to surgery for removal.  It is particularly disturbing that the age range of patients showing up with these issues is getting younger.  So, you can understand a dermatologist’s perspective when they see women and men purposely trying to get a tan and needlessly exposing themselves to this risk.

There is no “safe” way to tan.  Tanning beds are no exception!  In fact, the rays in tanning beds can often be more intense than the sun itself.   According to an AP article, melanoma (the deadliest type of skin caner) is now the top cancer afflicting women in their 20s in the UK, overtaking cervical cancer.  They attribute this increase in young women (typically not the group where melanoma is so common) as a result of tanning bed use.  In the United States, Florida lawmakers are considering a ban on tanning salon use for those under 16 years old.  Miss Florida Teen, Kayla Collier, recently testified before a Florida state house committee supporting the proposal.  She was diagnosed with a melanoma at age 16.

The possibility of skin cancer aside, tanning leads to accelerated aging of the skin.  We know that exposure to UVA rays also cause more wrinkles, brown spots and breakdown of collagen.   As the summer approaches and people seek dark, bronzed skin, consider alternatives like spray tans or lotions to keep your skin healthy.  Avoid tanning and wear your sunblock!

Tags: Dermatologist, melanoma, skin cancer, tanning, tanning beds, tanning salon, uva, uvb

This entry was posted on Monday, April 13th, 2009 at 3:27 pm and is filed under Skin Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.