Risk Of Skin Cancer In Tanning Beds

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.

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,

So this bring me back to the question, what side are you on? I’m personally against banning tanning beds, many think if beds are used the right way, they can be safer. If tanning beds are used correctly, then there is minimal damage done to the body of the person being tanned because you control the time you

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.

“Those who tanned the most—for ten years or more had more than twice the risk of melanoma compared with people who never used tanning beds.”—Martin Weinstock of Brown University of Medicine. Tanning beds are very menacing machines. They give out ultra violet rays that lead to melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Tanning beds are causing many problems to millions of people.

Being the daughter of woman who has had both basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer, I am biased in my belief that tanning beds cause skin cancer. As a teenager, I never used the services of a tanning salon, because my mother and my dermatologist succeeded in terrifying me about the dangers of tanning beds. Not surprisingly the article I found, “Congressional Investigation Finds Tanning Salons Lie About Health Risks to Patrons”, confirmed my beliefs. The article summarizes a study that was completed by the U.S House and Energy Committee, which revealed that 90% of the 300 tanning salons that were researched by the committee had denied the inherent risks associated with tanning beds. In addition, the author of the article, Mikaela Conley, compares and contrasts the causation between skin cancer and tanning beds between professionals who have conflicting interests.

found at tanning salons and some people even have their own personal ones in their homes. They contain about 24 to 60 lamps. There are two types of ultraviolet radiation that affect skin. They are called UVA and UVB. Tanning beds use more UVA light which penetrates deeper layers of the epidermis. People absorb more UV rays by using tanning beds rather than just tanning outside or at the beach. Some people just use them for special events like weddings or prom but the “radiation from just 10 indoor tanning sessions in two weeks can suppress a

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

There has been speculation that using a tanning bed is the only harmful method to a person’s health, but that is utterly wrong. A tan, whether from a bed, on the beach, or through accidental exposure,

The difference between the sun and a tanning bed are the amount of UVA and UVB rays that are emitted, tanning beds, use fluorescent bulbs that emit predominantly UVA with a small amount of UVB. The Sun emits way more UVB than a tanning bed. The skin cancer foundation said “UVA exacerbates the cancer-causing effects of UVB, and is the main wavelength behind photo-aging…It penetrates more deeply and causes more genetic damage in the skin cells where most skin cancers arise.” On the website “YoExpert” they wrote an easy way to remember the difference between UVA and UVB and their side effects is UVA = Aging UVB= Burn. So if if one was worried about burning in the sun then a tanning bed is the way to go. Bad things are that a tanning bed will make

Indoor tanning beds can have a negative impact on your skin. It can cause premature wrinkles, rashes, and can cause cancer. Tanning is like a slow cooker that can slowly affect your skin and your aging process. When tanning it is suggested to ask the salon staff the recommended exposure limits for your skin type. Always precautious when you decide to tan for example if you do not wear goggles then it can damage your ocular perceivers such as losing your vision. Wearing indoor sunscreen would be a good precaution for your skin and you should consider your medical history for going tanning. Secondly, knowing the type of bulbs when tanning is very important. The tanning lamps release ultraviolet rays your body can tan. They contain: inert gasses, a little mercury, and phosphorus coating.

Legislation passed a bill regulating minor’s use of tanning beds; however, no limit has been set to regulate the amount of tanning a minor can consume. Due to the high amount of debate on whether there should be regulations on artificial tanning, Donna W. Driscoll, professor at Molloy College, and Jennifer Darcy, clinical instructor, evaluated all fifty states in an online questionnaire regarding restrictions on tanning. The questionnaire included questions regarding the access of tanning beds by minors and legal enforcement issues. The questionnaire scaled the answers of the states on a range of four levels of restriction: zero having no restrictions, less than ten having minimal restrictions, ten to twenty having moderate restrictions, and

The World Health Organization has declared indoor tanning devices to be cancer-causing agents that are in the same category as tobacco. Studies have found a 59% increase in the risk of melanoma in those who have been exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning. More than 35 states restrict

Before one can discuss harmful effects of tanning equipment and increased sun exposure, one must be familiar with the components of ultraviolet light and how affects the skin. Sunlight contains two types of ultraviolet (UV) light: UVA and UVB. UVA rays consist of longer wavelengths that penetrate deep into the dermal layer of skin. Limited exposure to UVA rays causes skin to tan; however, most experts agree that overexposure to UVA can lead to other long-term skin damage. UVB rays’ wavelengths are much shorter, affecting the outermost layers of skin. UVB rays are known as the "burning rays" and are considered more dangerous. Tanning beds and sun lamps generally emit 93% to 99% UVA

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