About Home Tanning Beds

Archive for the ‘Information on Tanning’ Category

The carcinogenic exposure patterns in animals have been studied and examined at length in laboratories. Many different animals have developed SCC after being exposed to ultraviolet light. Of course, we, as humans, have relied on animal studies to obtain much of our knowledge regarding skin cancer.

With experimental animals, the results of indoor tanning were actually more evident than with regular sun exposure. The animals were given UV light in numerous small doses in order to simulate the effects of indoor tanners, and the animals developed more SCCs than when the same amount of energy was given in a few big doses to cause sunburns. A conclusion can be made that tanning is actually more damaging and dangerous than burning when it comes to the development of squamous cell carcinoma and photoaging. This is partially based on an experiment in which a hairless albino mouse was given a dose of UVB in small daily doses, such as that given in a tanning salon.

There have been no significant animal models for melanoma or basal cell carcinoma until quite recently. Our prior knowledge has been obtained from previous epidemiological studies in humans, and is therefore, incomplete.

An animal that is capable of developing melanocytic tumors has been discovered. It is the South American opossum (Monodelphid domestica). Epidemiologists have now been using that animal in their studies on melanoma and other skin cancers. The recent studies have implied that multiple low doses of UV radiation are more dangerous in inducing melanoma than are high doses.

The indoor tanning industry has acknowledged that ultraviolet radiation may cause skin cancer if the person obtains a burn from the tanning devices. But the indoor tanning spokespeople state that the sun exposure that causes skin cancer, such as melanoma and basal cell carcinoma, is inconsistent with indoor tanning. The indoor tanning industry also believes that there is a major difference between acquiring a gradual tan from indoor tanning devices, thus being exposed to UV light in small doses and receiving UV light in larger doses, thereby causing burns.

There is not much information about the patterns of exposure for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). One reason for this is that in order to complete a reliable study, a person may have to remember his sun exposure tendencies back 40 or more years. Therefore, the studies are somewhat limited, however, a linear relationship can be drawn between the cumulative sun exposure and the increase in squamous cell carcinoma. It is probably safe to say that the more sun a person has been exposed to the greater his or her chances of SCC, even with a regular tanner who has received continuous sun exposure on a somewhat low dosage basis.

The more critical form of cancer, Melanoma, follows a somewhat different pattern of sun exposure. Studies have shown that if a person sustains intense sun exposure that results in sunburns, especially in childhood, they have a greater risk of developing Melanoma. This cancer could occur even when a person is exposed intermittently to the sun.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) follows a pattern similar to melanoma in that a person has a greater risk of development this cancer with intense intermittent exposure to the sun resulting in sunburns, once again, especially in childhood.

During the 1920′s a suntan became a stunning look for the rich and famous. This was largely due to the influence of Coco Chanel, the French designer, who declared that a suntan was a desirable fashion look. The concept of achieving a “healthy glow” without having to obtain it outdoors became very popular. However the early indoor tanning devices emitted extremely dangerous portions of the ultraviolet rays, UVC and UVB, and they also had many safety problems. Medical devices that emitted mainly UVA rays were developed and used widely in the 1970′s for the purpose of indoor tanning. The adverse effects of UVB rays, which cause the skin to redden, were more obvious than the effects of UVA rays at that time. However, those new indoor tanning devices claimed to offer a “safe” tan.

It was soon learned that UVA exposure could also cause the identical problems that occurred with UVB exposure, such as sunburns, wrinkles (known as photoaging), and skin cancer. The devices that emitted UVA rays were also not very effective for developing a “suntan.” Thus, the claims of the indoor tanning industry that these devices could promote a safe tan, were soon learned to be false. Scientific reasons did not cause the abandonment of such claims, but rather it was the desire for darker and faster tanning than what could be achieved by the UVA rays. This lead to the development of indoor tanning machines that combined UVA and UVB rays to replicate that combination which is contained in the sun. As a result, the machines which are used today were developed.

It is very important that people obtain enough vitamin D as it is crucial in the development and maintenance of healthy teeth and bones. Sunlight exposure does stimulate the production of vitamin D in the body. However, most people do not need great amounts of sun exposure in order to produce vitamin D. An amount of 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure a couple of times a week, without the use of sunscreen, is normally sufficient for vitamin D production. After this amount of sun has been attained, a person should apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more.

There are other means by which people can attain vitamin D; sunlight is not the only resource for vitamin D production in the body, although it is a major source. Vitamin D is also found in foods which are supplemented with that vitamin such as fortified milk and cereals. There is also ample vitamin D in foods such as salmon, herring, mushrooms and eggs. People who are not able to get much sun exposure, such as many elderly people who remain indoors all day, must include good sources of vitamin in their daily diets.

Even though it is vitally important to utilize sunscreen on the body, a sunscreen with an SPF of 8 or higher will prevent ultraviolet rays from producing vitamin D in the body. However, it is important to utilize sunscreen routinely in order to help prevent the harmful effects of excessive sun exposure, such as skin cancer which can develop without the use of sunscreen. A small amount of sun exposure, without sunscreen, such as 10 to 15 minutes twice a week should be sufficient for the average person to maintain vitamin D in the body.

The harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation in sunlight include the increased risks of skin cancer, but there is a major benefit as well. The benefit of ultraviolet radiation is that it stimulates the production of Vitamin D in the body. In fact, the Vitamin D produced by the sun may even play a major role in preventing or treating cancer. This is something that is currently being researched by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Many researchers believe that Vitamin D is instrumental in preventing or treating cancer. Studies have shown that there is a correlation between a deficiency of Vitamin D and an increased occurrence of cancer. This is primarily what has triggered the theory that Vitamin D production may reduce the risk of cancer since evidence has proven that vitamin D does have anti-cancer properties. However, according to the National Cancer Institute, more research is needed to assess the role that sunlight plays in the production of vitamin D for cancer prevention.

The recent information we have regarding vitamin D is somewhat confusing. After exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the skin is able to produce vitamin D. On the other hand, experts agree that ultraviolet radiation may cause skin cancer, therefore, there is no safe amount of sun exposure. Over the course of a person’s lifetime, the exposure to the sun could prove to be potentially hazardous because the amount of vitamin D that could prevent cancer is not known. In fact, it is not certain that vitamin D actually does prevent cancer. Also, the precise amount of sunlight necessary to replenish the body’s vitamin D is not known. Therefore, until more information is obtained, the American Cancer Society stresses that it is extremely important that individuals protect their skin from the effects of too much sun. Of course, your body does need vitamin D, and the safest way to ensure that your body has adequate amounts is to take a multivitamin that contains vitamin D.

There have been numerous warnings from public health experts and medical professionals regarding the dangers of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and tanning devices, including tanning beds and sun lamps.

Sunburning has long been associated with ultraviolet radiation. This includes ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet (UVB) radiation. The type of radiation that has been linked with sunburn is UVB, whereas UVA has been considered a deeper penetrating radiation.

The general public has known for years that UV radiation in high doses can be harmful, but there are recent warnings that substantiate the harmful effects that UV radiation may have. Scientists now link the exposure of UV radiation with malignant melanoma, which is the more serious form of skin cancer. The UV radiation an individual obtains from the sun, tanning beds or sun lamps may contribute to or be the cause of skin cancer. For years, we have been advised that there is a correlation with skin cancer and sunburn or even moderate tanning due to the effects of UV radiation. The effects of UV radiation can also cause damage to an individual’s immune system and may cause premature aging of the skin, which causes it to appear wrinkled and leathery. Since an individual with a suntan often looks very healthy, people may associate suntans with good health and fitness.

The body does need sunlight, but it actually needs only a very small amount of sunlight, in order to produce Vitamin D. But, it takes a lot less sunlight to promote Vitamin D production than it does for the body to develop a suntan. Skin cancer cases have risen over the past decades which led experts to believe than it is due to the increased exposure to UV radiation from the sun, as well as tanning devices (tanning beds and sun lamps). In fact, in recent years, there have been over 1 million new skin cancer cases in the U.S. in an average year.

Due to the link between sunburns and melanoma development, some proponents of the indoor tanning industry have implied or suggested that if people obtain a tan, they will not sunburn, and therefore, would reduce their risk of melanoma. This is a totally false concept.

For one thing, it is not medically proven that the “sunburns-only” hypothesis of melanoma development is true. Also a person may still sunburn even if he or she acquires a tan from an indoor tanning parlor. There is no validity to the theory that indoor tanning will reduce your risk of sunburn. In addition, it has been proven that fair-skinned people are at the highest risk for melanoma and those people tan poorly, if at all. Fair-skinned people can burn whether they are at the beach or at the tanning parlor. The debate between burn versus tan does not even apply to this high risk group of people.

Research has proven that ultraviolet light may cause all three types of skin cancer. However, it is not definitely established whether burning or tanning is more carcinogenic is cases of melanoma and basal cell carcinoma.

If, in fact, burns are more carcinogenic than tanning (although we know this isn’t true for squamous cell carcinoma), it still would not be reasonable to promote tanning in order to avoid carcinogenic sunburns. People have often been burned at indoor tanning parlors, sometimes severely. Indoor tanning certainly does not provide adequate, if any, protection against burns from the sun. And, of course, you need to remember that the process of tanning itself injures the skin, even if it does not result in a sunburn.