Causes Of Melanoma

Many people think that is it possible to achieve a “healthy tan,” but this thought has been proven wrong. Overexpose to UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun lead to premature aging of the skin, as well as the possible formation of skin cancer, know as melanoma. An appearance of a tan is actually a stage of burning and damage to the skin. Although a tan may be desirable to many, the fact remains that more people need to be educated on the dangers of the sun’s harmful rays, and the possible health complications of overexposure.

Melanoma is caused by over exposure to UV which can sometimes cause sunburn, it can be especially critical to those whom are inclined to the disease itself. The tumours derive in the pigment-producing melanocytes which are inside the basal layer of the

Although there are several types of skin cancer, the most aggressive form is melanoma. This cancer of the skin involves mass replication of the pigment producing melanocyte cells, which are located in the epidermis, below the basal layer. There are several factors involved with the onset of melanoma including, exposure to ultraviolet rays, genetic predisposition, numerous nevi (moles), immunosuppression, and environmental exposure to carcinogens.

The basic component in tanning is ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light, whether produced by a tanning unit or by the sun, contains two components; UVA and UVB. These are the two types of ultraviolet radiation that are known to negatively effect the skin. UVA has a longer wavelength that causes photoaging and can produce some melanomas. UVB has a shorter wavelength that also causes photoaging and has been implicated in skin cancers. Photoaging is the premature aging or deep wrinkling of skin. Indoor tanning units utilize both forms of light waves to tan a person with a minimized risk of sunburn. Tanning outdoors does not give you this option because the sun omits every type of UV rays, so a person is more likely to burn. A person’s skin epidermis consists of two layers: The germinative layer and the horny layer. Another name for the germinative layer is the “living layer.” And another name for the horny layer is the “dead” layer. When exposed to ultraviolet light, melanocytes in the germinative layer produce melanin that is absorbed by surrounding cells. Melanin is a dark pigment found in the pigment-bearing cells of the skin, and melanocytes are epidermal cells capable of synthesizing melanin. This creates a protective barrier from ultraviolet light reaching deeper into the layers of the skin. The pale pink melanin granules are stored in the core of keratin cells. UVA darkens the melanin,

Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer among men and the sixth most common cancer in women (Melanoma Statistics). According to the Melanoma Research Foundation, the chances of getting melanoma increases by 75% if one uses a tanning bed before the age of thirty. (Why is tanning dangerous?). In addition, every one in three cancers diagnosed are diagnosed as skin cancer, and nearly 75% of patients diagnosed have admitted to using a tanning bed at least once in their lives. Although in some states it may be legal to use tanning beds under the age of eighteen, tanning beds have been proven to cause melanoma and skin damage when used inappropriately.

As many as ninety percent of melanomas are estimated to be caused ultra violet (UV) exposure. This includes UV exposure from artificial sources, such as tanning beds. “Strong evidence now links tanning beds to melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer that afflicts nearly 69,000 Americans a year.”—USA Today. The more one tans and the younger one is your risk for melanoma increases. However, melanoma is increasing faster in women 15-29 years old, than in men the same age. Furthermore, 10,000 people die from melanoma. This is mainly caused because of tanning beds. As a matter of fact, a person dies every fifty minutes from melanoma, the second most common cancer. Tanning beds triple the risk of one getting melanoma. In fact, every time one goes and tans, the risk gets higher and higher. Following this further, more people get melanoma because of tanning beds than developing lung cancer because of

Many teens today use tanning beds, but aren’t aware of how dangerous they really are. Tanning, especially indoor tanning has been linked to Melanoma and other types of skin cancers. A review of scientific evidence estimated that 400,000 cases of skin cancer in the United States is because of tanning bed and 6,000 cases of Melanoma. An increased rate of Melanoma was found in women under the age of 40, which rose a third since the early 1990’s. As time has

Have you ever felt the “false sense of security that [you] may not feel under direct sunlight” from a tanning bed (Jeffrey)? Your body relaxes, you feel serene, and you get a golden glow. Some teens strive for this feeling...and the tan. Tanning is the skin's response to injury, according to Arielle Kauvar, M. D. The exposure of UV rays over time can cause skin cancer. Skin cancer is the growth of abnormal growth of skin cells that forms in the tissue of the skin (Skin Cancer). Melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, can come from UV rays. From 1998- 2008, the number of cases of Melanoma has increased by about

The biggest concern with tanning unnaturally is the negative effects it has on the body. When tanning through a tanning bed the body is being exposed to several fluorescent lights that transmits ultraviolet radiation to produce a fake tan. According to THE EDITORS, “Last year a systematic review and meta-analysis of 88 studies concluded that the beds lead to over 10,000 new cases of melanoma—the deadliest form of skin cancer—every year in the U.S., Australia and Europe and as many as 450,000 cases of other skin cancers” (par. 4). The number of those cancer cases is

In fact, “People who have ever used a tanning bed have a sixty-seven percent increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma and a twenty-nine percent increased risk of developing basal cell carcinoma. People who first use a tanning bed before age thirty-five increase their risk of melanoma by seventy-five percent” (Silecchia). In the past, melanoma mostly affected people in their fifties or older, but today, dermatologists see patients in their twenties and even late teens with this type of cancer. Experts believe this is caused by an increase in radiation from the use of tanning beds. A sunburn or intense sun exposure may also increase a person's chances of developing this deadly cancer. Being in the sun is inevitable, but people can still protect their skin from many forms of skin cancer by doing the simplest things such as applying sunscreen.

According to International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (2007) systematic review about sunbeds and melanoma cancer worldwide, “First exposure to sunbeds before 35 years of age significantly increased the risk of melanoma” (1116). Further research strengthens the link between tanning beds and melanoma. Lazovich et al. (2010) studied the diagnosed cases of melanoma in the state of Minnesota between 2004-2007. The age group they studied was 25-59, and asked the study participants about their tanning bed practices (1557). They found out that the odds ratio “for the likelihood of melanoma in relation to having ever tanned indoors was 1.74…Melanoma risk increased markedly with frequency of use” (Lazovich et al., 2010, 1564).

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It develops when unrepaired DNA damage to your skin cells trigger genetic defects that lead you skin cells to multiply at a fast pace and form tumors. Melanoma can often resemble moles and some can come from previous moles. These melanoma moles can range in color from pink, red, brown, purple, white, blue and skin-colored, but more mostly seen as black or brown. It’s said that consumers who use indoor ultraviolent tanning devices are seven-four percent more likely to develop melanoma compared to someone who has never used a tanning bed before. Melanoma is usually caused from intense and over exposure to UV radiation. It has be estimated to kill around 10,000 individuals in the U.S. each year. The lifetime risk of melanoma is 1.5 times higher in males than in females. Melanoma is curable, if it is recognized early and

Tanning has become increasingly popular over years. The question is it beneficial or a bad business deal to start. The truth is tanning is convenient method utilized by many individuals to gain skin tone and color, builds self- esteem and promote relaxation. It can be beneficial in many aspects of our lives as well as an alternative to more harmful exposure but there are always risks at everything you do. Dermatologists today are against it for the simple fact that they believe it causes skin cancer. According to NCI (National Cancer Institute) exposure to UV radiation—whether from the sun or from artificial sources such as sunlamps utilized in tanning beds—increases of developing skin cancer. IRAC (International Agency for Research on

Tanning salons turn their attention toward cancer prevention and turn their backs on causing skin cancer. Lavine wrote, "The JNCI review noted that indoor tanning can increase a fair-skinned individual's risk of developing melanoma by 55%. And it can take a mere 10 indoor-tanning sessions to cause precancerous DNA damage, reports a recent review study by a Kings College London researcher (Lavine)." Melanoma is not the only form of skin cancer. Tanning beds play a role in the formation of other skin cancers as

C. Melanoma Skin Cancer is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, it kills one person per hour, these cancerous growths are most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds. These tumors originate in the pigment-producing melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. Melanoma is caused mainly by intense, occasional UV exposure (frequently leading to sunburn), especially in those who are genetically predisposed to the disease. Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color or feel of a mole.