TANNING BOOTHS- A BIG NO-NO!
Recent Scandinavian Study
A recent eight year study on
more then 100,000 Scandinavian women found that frequent tanning-booth users
(more then once a month) were 55 % more likely to develop malignant
melanoma! Women in their 20’s were even more likely to develop the
deadly form of skin cancer especially if they are fair skinned. The study
done by an international group of researchers and reported in Journal of the
National Cancer Institute, found that the risk of melanoma from exposure is
two times higher for blondes and four times greater with red hair compared
to women with black or brown hair.
Are tanning booths less
dangerous than tans from the sun? The fact is that the UVA rays that are
emitted from the Ultraviolet A
light sources in tanning salons are two to three times more powerful
than the UVA rays which occur naturally from the sun.
Scientists and most lay
people agree that solar radiation is damaging to our skin. The first effect of
sun damage that we notice is that our skin may become pink, red, or blistered
from a severe burn. Forms of photosensitivity including drug reactions and sun
poisoning may also be initiated by tanning salon exposure.
Some who tan not only
accept, but expect their skin to pass through these damaging changes. They
believe that these damaging skin changes are the path to a deep, golden glow.
They want to appear healthy. So they often accept the pink, red, and even
severe burns and blisters, as necessary tribulations that must occur.
Comments from Physicians
What we
usually say is that ANY tan is a response to injury and that the best way to
get Vitamin D is through diet. Those who do tan like this are going to
suffer from skin cancer and other serious consequences of longstanding UV exposure
Clay Cockerell,
MD
President AAD
The
devises utilized in tanning salons produce predominantly UVA (320-360 nm)
light. This spectra of UV light does promote
tanning. However, people must understand that tanning represents the skin
cell's protective response to
In relation to the claim of tanning
devises promoting vitamin D production, it is well known that natural
sunlight is much more effective as it includes UVB as well as UVA light.
Most of the vitamin D production to the most active and useful form
(vitamin D3) is achieved by UVB (290-320 nm). My understanding is that one
gets adequate amount of vitamin D3 production with as little as 15-20 minutes
of accumulated unprotected natural sun exposure to the head and neck and
hands and arms per week. It would seem to me that one could achieve the needed
amount of vitamin D3 production more efficiently and at no financial cost with
limited amounts of unprotected natural sun exposure each week. We can all
easily get what we need with several short walks, bike rides, or whatever
one likes to do outdoors each week which is not
only relaxing but also good for one's overall health and
well being.
Jim Beckett, MD
First off,
a tan indicates that the skin has been damaged and is trying to
protect itself. Damage occurs well before we have even noticed a tan.
Tanning beds provide a
mounting evidence that tanning beds contribute to melanoma and non-melanoma
skin cancer rates.
Vitamin D is produced in the skin from exposure to UVB. Tanning beds
produce primarily UVA radiation though some of the newer beds produce UVB as
well (so how do they prevent burning?). The body will shut off production
of Vitamin D once enough is made. Therefore, prolonged exposure or
repeated
exposure to tanning beds will not be that helpful. Further, the target
market for tanning beds is young active OUTDOORS individuals - those least
likely to need extra vitamin D from sun exposure. Although there is a big
hue
and cry about health risks associated with vitamin D deficiency, the only ones
that have been absolutely shown to be an issue are related to hip fractures
and balance (I believe). Rickets is talked about, but how many cases of
rickets are documented in Caucasian Americans each year? Not many!
Further, the claims that mortality will drop based on Vitamin D production is
not based on any facts relating to Vitamin D. It is related to the observation
that there is a latitude gradient effect - this could be related to Vitamin D
but it could also be related to a number of other things like air and water
quality. Finally, there is evidence that vitamin D supplementation is
helpful
in improving Vitamin D levels - and it is safer too!
The tanning industry has had to stop making unsubstantiated medical claims
here in
US of A.
Jason Rivers, MD