Dying to be tanned
Our summer here in Ireland which started off promisingly in early June, has fizzled out to the usual damp and wet Irish summer we have become all too familiar with. Being tanned used to be a big priority for me back in my teenage years and on into my twenties, but my priorities have changed since then, and I miss the blue skies and warmth of a sunny day, not the tan. I resorted to tanning salons back in the day in pursuit of that “healthy” glow, but there was little or no talk of the dangers of sunbeds then. In fact, it was marketed as a safer way to get a tan! The logic was that you started on the beds before you went on your sun holiday to build up a base and then you wouldn’t burn so easily! When I think back to how recklessly I used those tanning salons, knowing what I know now, I really cannot fathom why I believed having a tan was so important. But then, when you are young, you don’t believe that you will get ill, you will age, or you will die, and it seems that despite all the cancer warnings, the pursuit of that tan is still all important to younger girls today.
A recent report has claimed categorically that sunbeds pose a similar cancer risk as cigarettes and asbestos. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) had previously classified sunbeds as being a “probable” cause of cancer.
However, the agency is now recommending that tanning machines should be moved to “the highest cancer risk category” and be labeled as “carcinogenic to humans”.
It followed a review of research that concluded that the risk of melanoma — the most deadly form of skin cancer — was increased by 75 percent in people who started using sunbeds regularly before the age of 30.
The IARC also says there is evidence of a link between melanoma of the eye and the use of sunbeds. In an article in medical journal The Lancet, WHO oncology expert Dr. Fatiha El Ghissassi wrote: “The use of UV-emitting tanning devices is widespread in many developed countries, especially among young women.
“Analysis concluded that the risk of skin melanoma is increased by 75 percent when use of tanning devices starts before 30 years of age.
“Studies provide consistent evidence of a positive association between the use of UV-emitting tanning devices and ocular melanoma.
“Therefore, the Working Group raised the classification of the use of UV emitting tanning devices to Group 1, ‘carcinogenic to humans.'”
For more on this study click here
Source: CNN
So true on your comment about having a “healthy” tan. Being from “the South,” having a tan was almost expected. Pale girls were often told they looked sickly and needed to get out in the sun more. So hard to quiet those voices that say you “must” have a tan to look good.
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A few weeks ago, I went to a tanning salon for this first time ever. Being an Oncology nurse, I have seen my share of melanoma patients, and I know how bad the tanning beds are. So why go? For the Spray tan… It’s really not a bad alternative… things have gotten alot better in the spray tan world over the years…. no more “orange” Everyone I know thought it was an actual beach tan…
But I also have to say how shocked I was by the volume of people coming in for the actual tanning beds. And 90% of them were under the age of 30. We have to do a better job of getting the word out on this. And perhaps, like cigarettes, there should be a warning sticker on every machine that is clearly visible and required reading.
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that’s a great idea about the sticker Eric – perhaps it’s time for us to start lobbying for that! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment on my blog.
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I think we need to make everyone aware of the dangers of sunbeds and also of actually going in the sun.Historically our generations have been told that “you look well” when tanned and we urgently need to reverse this belief .
As a society we need to promote the sun as a damaging element to our bodies and as for sunbeds they are just a harmful manmade machine which simulates the sun’s effect on us by intense burning of our skin.
Never mind global warming…what about the effect of the stromg sun’s rays on our skin!!
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i think in moderation sun beds should carry on being used, just dont over do it or burn.
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I also have the website that relate “Melanoma”. Anyway, visit me for sometime!! Thanks!! for the good articles.^_^
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tanning salons which are equipped with the latest equipment is the facility that i always visit ~
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