A 'Healthy' Tan is a Myth
SIOUX FALLS (April 1, 2008) - As spring turns to summer, many teen-age girls and women will go on the quest for the "perfect tan," as they look forward to proms, weddings, or swimsuit season.
In a recent survey by the American Academy of Dermatology, 65 percent said they believe they look better and healthier with a tan. Yet tanning is anything but healthy for the skin, whether it takes place out in the sun, or in tanning booths.
"There is no such thing as safe tanning," said Dr. Jana Johnson, dermatologist with Avera Dermatology and Laser Center in Sioux Falls. The same ADD survey found that 92 percent of people believe that tanning in the sun is dangerous. What they may not recognize is the danger of tanning booths.
Each year, almost 30 million Americans visit indoor tanning salons. Seventy percent are girls and women between the ages of 16 and 49. More than 25 percent of teen girls have used tanning salons three or more times in their lives.
While tanning can result in premature aging of the skin and injuries including sunburns, infections and eye damage, the greatest danger is the risk of developing skin cancer, including the most deadly form of melanoma.
The primary cause of skin cancer is overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The sun is one source of that radiation. Tanning lamps also can emit both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation at high levels, and the high-pressure UVA sunlamps can emit doses of UVA that are as much as 15 times that of the sun.
Dr. Johnson said she's seeing more skin cancer in women. Especially surprising are more diagnoses of skin cancer, including melanoma, in younger women. "On an average day, I see five to 10 new cases of skin cancer in my practice alone."
Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the United States. One in five people will have skin cancer sometime during their lifetime, with about 1.3 new cases diagnosed each year. Fortunately, 80 percent of cancers fall into the category of basal cell cancers, the least serious type. This type does not usually spread beyond the initial site, and cancerous spots can be removed surgically on an office visit. Another 15 percent are squamous cell carcinomas, which are also less serious, but can spread.
While only 5 percent of skin cancers are melanoma, this type is the most serious and can be life threatening. If caught early, cancerous spots can be removed surgically. But when melanoma spreads to lymph nodes or other organs, chemotherapy and radiation are not effective against it, Dr. Johnson said.
Dr. Johnson recommends that any unusual mole, bump or scaly spot be checked by a physician, especially if it bleeds.
To prevent skin cancer:
- Avoid sunburn. Having five or more sunburns doubles your risk of skin cancer
- Seek the shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when sunlight is most intense
- Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day
- Cover up with UV-protective clothing, hats, and UV-blocking sunglasses
- To get a tan, consider a sunless self-tanning product
By being smart about tanning, especially in their youth, women can protect themselves against skin cancer and premature aging in later years. "What you do during your teens, 20s and 30s will matter in your 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s," Dr. Johnson said.
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