- Tanning Salons Involve Harmful UVA Radiation - whatsrname
These days there are tanning salons located in most parts of the UK which are being used week in week out and even several days a week often by those in their late teens and young adults. Magazines and television advertisements all bombard people with the false belief that having tanned or glowing skin is key to helping them look more attractive. There is also a myth that heading to a tanning facility will help prepare the skin for a summer holiday.
Tanning Facilities use UVA Light Bulbs
Light sources used in tanning facilities are recognised as exposing the skin to harmful UVA rays through the use of UVA bulbs. A significant problem with these UVA bulbs is that as they age the damage done to skin is increased, as when bulbs age they begin to emit UVB radiation. Many tanning facilities are happy for customers to return as many times as they wish, thus increasing the level of exposure as time goes on. The damage caused by regularly visiting tanning salons is not often visible in the beginning and so it is rather easy for younger people to dismiss any health concerns or potentially harmful consequences associated with tanning.
Although new legislation has recently been introduced this does not go far enough to prevent individuals from suffering severe health complications as a direct result of regularly visiting tanning facilities. Even more alarming is that it is very simple to rent out or purchase a tanning bed for use within the home, thus making it impossible to truly know how much they are being used.
Dangers of UVA-Induced Tans
UVA is recognised as potentially very harmful in itself and is identified as being both an initiator and promoter of tumours, thus being directly related to the development of skin cancers, which at worst can be fatal. When an individual is exposed to UVA radiation, the skin's immune response is affected, thus limiting the body's natural defense system. Ironically, the truth about UVA tanning is that it does not achieve the look many young women hunger for and in fact actually sets the skin up for premature aging. This premature aging is due to the manner in which UVA radiation penetrates deeply into the skin, eventually destroying both collagen and elastin fibres. The former is responsible for providing skin tissue with strength and the latter allows skin tissue to retain its shape.
An important take-home message is that though tans may look good in the beginning, the damage to skin is simply not worth it at all. The risks of skin damage are so great that both the FDA and CDC have issued health warnings against people using sun-beds or sun-lamps.
As highlighted above, the potential damage that using tanning salons may likely cause to one's skin make it as damaging as smoking in terms of health risks. Rather than wasting money on a fast track to premature ageing, perhaps it would be wiser buying sun protection instead.
Source:
McClay et al. (2004) 100 Questions and Answers About Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
