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To
Tan or Not to Tan
Author:
Darlene
Zagata
Most
of us are eager to have a golden tan for summer
that everyone will admire but we don't often think
about the dangers caused by tanning.
To have a nice golden tan gives one the appearance
of healthy attractiveness but is tanning healthy?
Spending time in the sun can cause sunburn, wrinkles,
age spots and much more. Getting that much desired
glow at a tanning salon is safer than being out
in the sun or is it? Research studies are continually
showing that indoor tanning is not nearly as safe
as the tanning industry claims it is. The Ultraviolet
A light sources that are used may in fact emit twice
the amount of Ultraviolet A that reaches earth from
the sun. There are no benefits to artificial tanning
but there are several risks such as eye damage,
premature aging and skin cancer. Studies show that
skin cancer has dramatically increased in recent
years and that people who use tanning beds on a
regular basis are more likely to develop malignant
melanoma.
Over a million Americans visit tanning salons daily.
It's a big business industry that is not going to
willingly say or do anything that would jeopardize
its money making ability. Even with the risks being
known, many people continue to flock to tanning
salons just as smokers continue to buy cigarettes.
We know what we are doing to our bodies yet we continue
to do it. Tanning is skin damage. No matter how
nice our bronze bodies look, we are in a sense saying
that we have damaged our skin.
The sun's rays are strongest between the hours of
ten in the morning to four in the afternoon. When
going out in the sun during these hours, a sunscreen
should always be worn preferrably with an SPF of
at least 15. Many dermatologists and scientists
agree that tanning is not safe by any method. Sun
poisoning can occur not only from exposure to the
sun's rays but also from the light of artificial
tanning. The type of skin an individual was born
with can help determine how tanning will affect
its appearance over time. Many people with fair
skin will take on a reddish, scaly texture to their
skin while those with a darker or olive type complexion
tend to wrinkle quicker and develop a leathery look
after prolonged exposure to either the sun or tanning
beds.
Excessive exposure damages superficial blood vessels
and destroys connective tissue. It can also cause
fever, chills and nausea. According to all the evidence
that has been put forth by experts in the health
field among others, it certainly seems that artificial
tanning presents the same risks as exposure to the
sun. Our society places great emphasis on appearance
which is understandable and normal but it is not
normal when we endanger our health for the sake
of appearance. It is bad enough to put our health
at risk by over-exposure to the sun but when we
go to tanning salons we are willingly paying to
jeopardize our health. Think about it. If you must
tan, take every precaution possible to protect your
skin and limit your exposure. You only have one
skin so wear it well.
About the Author:
Darlene Zagata is a freelance writer and poet. Her
work has appeared in several electronic and print
publications. Darlene is the Editor of the Health
department at RITRO.com
and she co-authors a column with her son at RaisingASon.com.
She is also a Review Editor for MyShelf.com
and an Editorial Reviewer for The Writer's Room
Magazine. Her book of poetry "Aftertaste" is now
available at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. Her
first book of fiction, "The Choosing" is currently
in the process of publication.
ARTICLE CATEGORY: All articles relate directly
or indirectly to an aspect of tanning (sun or sunless).
Please note that although they have been categorised
according to their main topic, there may be an overlap
of topics within individual articles.
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