Tanning and Public Policy
In order to reduce the present epidemic of skin cancer, medical groups, as well as physicians and other health care providers, have participated in campaigns to inform people of the dangers of UV rays. In fact these health care providers have instituted worldwide campaigns to encourage people to decrease their excessive exposure to ultraviolet light, thus reducing the current epidemic of skin cancer. Overall these efforts have succeeded in educating the public, as evidenced by surveys that have been conducted on the subject. However, in spite of this increased public awareness that the effects of ultraviolet rays causes skin cancer, there are more people than ever tanning themselves both indoors and outdoors.
Many women have taken advantage of the effect of indoor tanning in order to achieve a tan in a short period of time. Often they do so because they have an upcoming special event to attend, such as a wedding or a vacation, and they feel that they look better with a tan. Many of the frequent visitors to tanning salons are young women who perceive a “suntan” as a social attribute. The disadvantages of achieving a tan from indoor and home tanning beds is that these young women have a greater risk of developing photo-aging and skin cancer that may not show up for many years. However, they are not looking at the long term effects, but merely the short term, which gives them their desired look immediately.
These circumstances merely increase the strength of the indoor tanning industry to market their services to the younger people and others who want to achieve a perceived beautiful “look” in a short amount of time. A tan may appear to give a person a healthy glow, which leads the tanning industry to make such ambiguous claims that indoor tanning is healthy, not harmless.
It is important that the tanning industry be regulated at the state and national levels in order to prohibit false claims from being made about their products. Health care providers should continue to participate actively in educating the public about the harmful effects of tanning, both indoors and out. They should especially focus their attention on young people, many of whom, do not think they need to be concerned about the harmful effects of tanning at such a young age.
Related posts:
Posted in Need To Know Information