Why You and Your Daughters Should Stay Out of Tanning Beds
Wednesday October 1, 2008
I've spent a wee bit of time in tanning beds -- mostly in college in preparation for spring breaks at the beach. I learned rather quickly I'm not a beach person and spent my junior and senior year spring breaks camping and hiking in Texas's Big Bend National Park. Much more my speed. But back to the tanning beds... This month's issue of Marie Claire has troubling statistics that are sure to keep you and your kids out of tanning beds for good.
According to Marie Claire, there has been a 50 percent increase in melanoma cases in women under age 39 since 1980. Dr. Amy Wechsler suspects tanning beds are a culprit, but I've read it has much to do with the thinning of the ozone layer. The closer you are to the hole in the ozone, the higher your chances of skin cancer. On my spring trip this year to Vietnam and Cambodia, most people -- especially the locals -- wore clothes and hats to cover up their skin, and a fellow traveler told me all New Zealanders and Australians (these countries are very susceptible) are very careful to cover up because they are well aware they are at increased risk of skin cancer.
If any of you have a personal experience with melanoma, feel free to comment below. Let's get ourselves and our kids out of the sun and the tanning beds.
According to Marie Claire, there has been a 50 percent increase in melanoma cases in women under age 39 since 1980. Dr. Amy Wechsler suspects tanning beds are a culprit, but I've read it has much to do with the thinning of the ozone layer. The closer you are to the hole in the ozone, the higher your chances of skin cancer. On my spring trip this year to Vietnam and Cambodia, most people -- especially the locals -- wore clothes and hats to cover up their skin, and a fellow traveler told me all New Zealanders and Australians (these countries are very susceptible) are very careful to cover up because they are well aware they are at increased risk of skin cancer.
If any of you have a personal experience with melanoma, feel free to comment below. Let's get ourselves and our kids out of the sun and the tanning beds.
Comments
Are you kidding me? According to a fashion magazine there has been a 50% increase in melanoma? What a ridiculous thing to say. Where’s the medical study? What happened to journalists verifying their info & sources before publishing such things? The author is a parrot, nothing more. And makes a very unwise suggestion to keep kids out of the sun. How about responsible suggestions that we not expose ourselves to the sun during peak hours, and that sun burns are bad. Not all exposure is bad. As well, tanning indoors in moderation and not burning is more responsible than letting our kids lay on a beach all day & get fried. Has the author read anything recently that says a little sun exposure is a good thing? Do some research before publishing this nonsense.
Hi Michelle,
The person who quoted that statistic in Marie Claire is none other than world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Amy Wechsler.
While you are correct that people shouldn’t avoid the sun at all costs, the increased rates of melanoma are sobering.
Julyne
My 42 year old daughter has skin cancer. She is blonde and fair skinned. She had a mole on the underside of her arm that didn’t look right so she went to the doctor. She was fortunate to catch it early and she will fully recover. She did a lot of outdoor tanning when she was a teen, but has stayed out of the sun for the most part since becoming an adult. Early sunburns can and will affect you later in life. So, keep your kids protected by using sun screen, cover them up and limit their exposure during peak times.
Dear Julyne
Further to article you read in Marie Clare, the following link takes you to Australia Cancer Council position statement on dangers of solariums, for your info
http://www.cancer.org.au//File/PolicyPublications/PSdangersofsolariumsAUG07.pdf
Kind regards,
Aileen from Australia
I definitely agree that it is a must to protect yourself from harmful rays, especially during peak hours. Yes a little sun is good, esp. for vit d formation, but personally, I would rather pop vit d supplements. I had basal cell carcinoma thanks to my glorious sun tanning days in my 20’s. Luckily I woke up by the time I was 30 . I am now 61 and people consistently comment on my smmooth skin. Protect your skin before it is too late!
I do a lot of indoor tanning, and I am well aware of the consequences that can come from tanning. NO tan is a good tan. A tan is the result of the mutation of melanin in our skin. So any exposure to the sun will mutate these cells and can possibly cause cancer. Although I am being a hypocrite saying this, I am fully aware of what a tan is, and how skin cancer develops. Many of you are not.