As summer approaches and college formals loom, the threat of being “pale” in those Facebook pictures is beginning to creep into all of our minds. However scary not being tan may seem at this moment, is it really worth baking ourselves in tanning beds or risking the dreaded orange hue of a spray tan?
On a modern day college campus, it is extremely difficult to find people, girls in particular, that haven’t gone tanning…ever. More than 1 million people use tanning salons in the United States alone! I’ll admit, half-priced tanning and “free sessions to new clients” deals have been my downfall in the past. However, after delving deeper into the reasons why tanning is so harmful the temptation of frying myself is quickly diminishing.
Before going into the ultra-science components of tanning, it’s important to understand what “indoor tanning” is. According to the Center for Disease Control, indoor tanning is any kind of tanning bed, tanning booth, or sunlamp. These are all considered types of indoor tanning because they all produce types of ultraviolet radiation known as UV-A and UV-B rays. UV-B rays target the top layers of the skin and cause superficial sunburns, while UV-A rays target the deeper layers of the skin and cause red and itchy bumps, which is usually an allergic reaction to the rays.
Now that we know what tanning is, the next step in understanding its dangers to your health is understanding how tanning gives you that bronzed glow. While you may not get a sunburn, tanning is how our skin responds to being injured. When the damaging UV rays enter skin, cells produce more of a pigment called melanin which, in turn, darkens the skin and gives us a tan.
The types of risks are melanoma (the deadliest kind of skin cancer), squamous cell carcinoma (another time of skin cancer), and ocular melanoma (eye cancer). The risk of cancer only increases each time you tan. The Center for Disease Control has even stated that those who begin tanning younger than age 35 have a 75% higher risk of developing melanoma in their lifetime. These risks of cancer are so great that in 2009 the International Agency for Research on Cancer labeled UV radiation from “tanning devices” as “carcinogenic to humans,” which is the highest cancer risk category. (“carcinogenic” means something that can cause cancer).
Even more risks consist of tanning makes the skin loose elasticity, or its ability to be stretched and then return to how it was before, which causes wrinkles. UV-B rays may suppress the immune system and natural defenses in our body which predispose us to cancer, eye damage such as cataracts, and allergic reactions like rashes or bumps.
If all of the risks of indoor tanning have sufficiently scared you off, there are options to being tan without exposing yourself to harmful UV rays. You might want to try sunless tanning sprays. These sprays use DHA, a substance that helps to simulate a tan, and the United States Food and Drug Administration has deemed DHA safe to put on your skin. DHA is not safe, however, to be inhaled, ingested, or put on places that produce mucous such as your lips, eyes, and nose. If you’re seriously looking into getting a spray tan, the FDA recommends you do your research to ensure that during the process your eyes, mouth, nose, and ears will be covered and that you won’t be able to inhale the spray. If the tanning salon does not assure you of these, go somewhere else! Self-tanners, like lotions used at home, are also safe to use as long as the directions for application are followed. These usually wash off in a few days.
Even though there is scientific evidence against indoor tanning, there are still many people who are in complete support of using tanning beds, booths, and sunlamps as a “safe alternative” to tanning outdoors. A common argument backing indoor tanning is that it is a safe way of getting vitamin D. Even though it may be a way of getting vitamin D, it’s not a safe way. The safe way to get vitamin D is through a healthy diet as well as taking vitamin D supplements if needed. Another argument in favor of indoor tanning is that it is controlled since it is timed and the beds and other products are regulated by the FDA.
While I’ve sufficiently picked on indoor tanning, tanning outdoors is just as dangerous. The UV-A and UV-B rays that are produced from the bulbs used in indoor tanning are similar to the rays being emitted by the sun. Overall, wear sunscreen, use protective eyewear, and be smart and realistic in weighing the risks of being tan over being your natural, beautiful color.