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The Dangers of Tanning Essay

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Tanning was one of my favorite summertime activities growing up in the Midwest; it was a great thaw after a long, cold winter. During that time, baby oil was the choice of tanners whose goal it was to achieve the deep, rich golden colors of summer. Sadly, skin damage was caused summer after summer as the integumentary system was barraged with UV rays, knocking its system out of homeostasis.
Burns can range from first to third-degree with identifiable marking to each. Avid sun bathers have probably all experienced anything from a slight reddening to blistered skin. Each degree of burn destroys cells thereby disrupting homeostasis. Injury suffered by the epidermis, dermis, and possibly hypodermis, breaks down the protection the skin offers. …show more content…

Second-degree burn damage goes deeper into the layers, not only affecting the epidermis, but also damaging the upper region of the dermis (Marieb, 2006, p. 121). Blisters are caused due to the separation and fluid accumulation between the epidermis and dermis (Tortora and Grabowski, 1996, p. 136). Barring infection, regrowth of cells is possible as there are still epithelial cells present (Marieb, 2006, p. 122). An individual may consider increasing fluids to replace fluid loss due to the dehydration caused to the skin by the sunburn. Healing typically takes three to four weeks, and no special treatment is necessary. Home and over-the-counter remedies may help reduce pain. Special care is needed when using these remedies to ensure infection does not set-in on the exposed areas of blistered skin. Both first and second-degree burns are considered partial-thickness burns as only the epidermis and upper portion of the dermis are damaged.
Lastly, though typically inflicted by more damaging elements than the sun, a third-degree burn, also referred to as a full-thickness burn, is the most serious. Third-degree burns destroy the epidermis, dermis, and epidermal derivatives. Third-degree burns are diagnosed by various skin appearances from gray-white to blackened, dry skin. Due to the destruction of nerve ending, the burned area is not painful (Marieb, 2006, p. 122). For third-degree burn victims, the biggest death threat comes

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