Tanning

Acquiring a tan for fashion is an increasing trend and a dangerous trend at that. Many people, especially young women, are visiting solariums and tanning salons frequently to keep their tan year long. Sunbeds and suntanning lamps are artificial tanning devices that just like the sun, trigger the tanning process in the skin.

However to start the tanning process ultraviolet (UV) rays are released (either from the sun or artificial tanning devices) and UV rays (from either source) can damage the skin. Being exposed to ultraviolet radiation can cause sunburn, damage to the eyes, premature aging and other health effects, including an increased risk of skin cancer.

There are increasing numbers of people being diagnosed each year with skin cancers, including malignant melanoma (the most dangerous form of skin cancer). The main reason skin cancers are on the rise is due to exposure of UV radiation (from natural sunlight or use of sunbeds).

Getting a burn from UV exposure while as a child or a youth is another known risk to developing melanoma later in life. Due to such great risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that no person under 18 years of age should use a sunbed.

So if you are thinking about using indoor tanning beds or lamps - THINK AGAIN!  Some tanning salons may even tell you their lights are safe. Don’t be fooled - know the truths of indoor tanning from the tales.

One of the biggest “Tan Tales” is that a tan protects your from the sun. Truth is tanned skin has already been damaged. Some sunbeds can emit extremely high levels of UV rays - many times stronger than the rays of mid-day sun, so using indoor tanning beds and lamps should be avoided.

The bottom line is ultraviolet radiation is ultraviolet radiation whether it’s outdoors or in a tanning salon. And UV rays are a real health risk. Use sun sense when you’re outside and say no to indoor tanning.

For more information on tanning, see Tanning Under Lights, an information sheet Health Canada's Radiation Protection Bureau.

You can also checkout these websites for more information on sun safety and indoor tanning.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2005/np07/en/index.html

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/chooseyourcover/guide.htm

http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/standard/0,3182,3437_1046449084_1049663725_langId-en,00.html

This article was written by Julia Young R.N. B.N.