The Myths of Indoor Tanning

With May being Skin Cancer Awareness Month and in tandem with our event next week, The Hazards and Allure of Indoor Tanning Beds on College Campuses we are running a series on skin cancer. Be sure to check back daily for posts on skin cancer including how you prevent and detect it. Enjoy! A healthy glow. A base tan. Safer than the sun. I’ve heard these myths from indoor tanning proponents for years. The reality is there is not a single ounce of scientific merit to validate these fallacies. This Skin Cancer Awareness month, let’s put an end to the myths and get the facts straight. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization have declared ultraviolet (UV) radiation from tanning beds to be a known carcinogen. Evidence has shown that exposure to UV radiation from indoor tanning devices is associated with an increased risk of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Each year, more than 419,000 cases of skin cancer in the U.S. are linked to indoor tanning. But perhaps most alarming is that more than 70 percent of tanning salon patrons are Caucasian women, primarily between the ages of 16 to 29. We can turn the tide on this public health crisis. In fact, more than 35 states already restrict minors’ access to indoor tanning equipment, either by banning them from using it or requiring them to get parental consent. The American Academy of Dermatology Association is working in support...
Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs