The battle waged
by health experts to convince young
people in particular about the dangers
of tanning appears to be a losing one.
Watch the video below to hear the heartfelt
advice on the dangers of a deadly tan
from Clare Oliver, a young woman who
died at the age of 26 in September 2007
as a result of melonoma skin cancer.
"I
decided I did not want to risk my health
anymore for the sake of beauty... I found
out that if I used Safe Tan correctly, it
cost me less than $6.00 for a full body
tan! Which was about half price than a wholesale
tan in a booth!
...What
I most love about SAFE TAN is that the colour
is never orangy, even is strong sunshine,
and nobody can tell that it is a fake tan.
It is so easy to apply, even my husband
does a flawless job on my back.
...And
the best thing of all, using Safe Tan I
never have any more problems with the rash
and itchiness.
...To
date I have not found any better self tanning
product on the market." Boshena,
Former Spray Tanning Salon Owner, Byron
Bay, NSW Read
Boshena's full story...
More
than 90 percent of all skin cancers are
caused by sun exposure.
Serious
questions have been raised as to the health
risks associated with tanning beds
Sunburn
is skin damage resulting from overexposure
to UV rays
Although some skin types & skin
colours are at higher risk, everyone is at risk for
skin cancer damage as a result of excessive sun exposure.
[ 'Skin Cancer. Questions and
Answers' (Page last updated: December 21, 2006). Accessed
20 Jan 2008. (USA) Centers
for Disease Control]
Fact
#4:
The National Institutes of Health
and the World Health Organisation have identified
broad spectrum UV as a human carcinogen (cancer-forming).
['Shining Light on Ultraviolet
Radiation. Understanding UVC, UVB and UVA
(January 2006), Skin
Cancer Foundation]
Fact
#5:
Melanoma risk is highest among
fair-skinned people in Australia, New Zealand, Europe
and North America. Since the 1950s, the rate of skin
cancer has tripled in Norway and Sweden, where light
skin is common.
['Tanning lamps lead to melanoma
skin cancer. Recent study highlights alarming damage
from sun's UV rays' By Paul Recer (Associated Press).
10/15/03, The
Daily Texan]
Sunburn results from overexposure
to the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun or other
ultraviolet radiation (UVD) exposure (e.g.
tanning beds etc.). While the symptoms are usually
temporary (such as red skin that is painful to the
touch), the skin damage is often permanent.
Fact
#1:
A person's risk for skin cancer
doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns.
Ultraviolet radiation such
as from a solarium causes premature ageing of the
skin including skin wrinkling, irregular pigmentation
and altered skin texture (photoageing).
Photoageing includes wrinkling
and loss of skin elasticity. It is generally irreversible
without cosmetic surgery.
['Position Statement: Solariums'
(March 2007), Sun
Smart New Zealand]
Fact
#3:
Delayed Effects of Sun Exposure:
The sun can cause skin to age, wrinkle, thicken, dry
out, freckle, and blemish, and develop a rough texture.
['The Dark
Side of the Sun: Sun Exposure and Agriculture' Julie
Mitchell, (Accessed 20 Jan 2008), National
Ag Safety Database, CDC]
Fact
#4:
Besides the discomfort of sunburn,
other potential problems of excessive exposure to
the sun exist. These range from fatal skin cancers
to allergic reactions.
Skin damage from overexposure
to the sun is cumulative over the years and cannot
be reversed. Once the damage occurs, it cannot be
undone.
Most serious and lasting damage
occurs before age 18.
Ultraviolet rays from the sun
will damage skin but can also create vision problems,
allergic reactions, depressed immune systems, and
skin concerns.
Premature Aging of Skin: Repeated
exposure to the sun damages elastin fibers in the
skin and accelerates the aging process. Skin loses
elasticity, starts to sag and wrinkle, and becomes
leathery. The damage is irreversible, with signs
beginning to show in the early 20s on fair-skinned
individuals. Once even a small amount of damage
has occurred, repeated exposure to the sun increases
the effect. Besides leathery, wrinkled skin, other
signs of damage are brown patches or spots, or skin
with a yellow or grayish hue.
['Sun Exposure: Precautions and
Protection', Ohio State University Extension Fact
Sheet (Updated February 2007), Ohio
State University]
A new study by theAustralian Radiation
Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency study found:
People under the age of 35 raise
the risk of forming a dangerous melanoma skin cancer
by an 98 per cent if they use solariums.
An individual's chance of developing
a melanoma - the rarest but deadliest form of skin
cancer - increased by 22 per cent if they had used
a solarium just once.
In late 2007, Amanda Eather (25
year old) died of melonoma after a 2-year batter with
the disease. Her mother Tracey Eather, said Amanda
had rarely exposed herself to the sun but had used
solariums.
In a study of the effects of suntanning,
researchers believe an explanation for tan fans' dedication
to the sun & tanning beds - despite the repeated
warnings that it can cause skin to not only age more
quickly, but also become cancerous - is due to the
relaxing effect of UV exposure.
Eye Damage: Exposure to solariums
was first listed as a known human carcinogen linked
to malignant melanoma of the skin and eye in the Ninth
Report on Carcinogens in 2000.
['Position
Statement: Solariums' (March 2007), Sun
Smart New Zeland]
The FDA has received reports from
consumers stating that they have experienced adverse
events associated with sunless tanning, including
rashes and, primarily in the case of spray tanning
booths, coughing, dizziness, and fainting.
[CFSAN/Office of Cosmetics and
Colors, June 2003; revised July 1, 2003 and October
20, 2006, U.S. Food
& Drug Administration]
Fact
#2:
"DHA is listed in the regulations
as a color additive for use in imparting color to
the human body. However, its use in cosmetics--including
sunless "tanning" products--is restricted
to external application (21 CFR 73.2150). According
to the CFR, "externally applied" cosmetics
are those "applied only to external parts of
the body and not to the lips or any body surface covered
by mucous membrane" (21 CFR 70.3v). The industry
has not provided safety data to FDA in order for the
agency to consider approving it for use on these exposure
routes, including "misting" from tanning
booths.
...The use of DHA in "tanning"
booths as an all-over spray has not been approved
by the FDA, since safety data to support this use
has not been submitted to the Agency for review and
evaluation, When using DHA-containing products as
an all-over spray or mist in a commercial spray "tanning"
booth, it may be difficult to avoid exposure in a
manner for which DHA is not approved, including the
area of the eyes, lips, or mucous membrane, or even
internally."
[CFSAN/Office of Cosmetics and
Colors, June 2003; revised July 1, 2003 and October
20, 2006, U.S. Food
& Drug Administration]
Fact
#3:
Dr. Linda Katz (head of the Colors
and Cosmetics branch of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
the agency that regulates the use of DHA) says it's
O.K. to carefully spread DHA on your skin, but that's
far different from what happens inside the new spray
tanning booths.
DHA tan booths are unsafe and
thus illegal.
FDA officials said no one knows
the effects spray tans have on a baby.
['Spray Tans May Be Hazardous
To Health: DHA Approved, But Not For Tanning', UPDATED:
9:41 am EDT May 26, 2004, NewsChannel5.com]
Fact
#4:
Magic Tan made the following safety
recommendations to its salons:
Recommended Eye Protection: Disposable
eye protection known as Winkies.
Recommended Lip Protection: Any
coating of a Lip Balm such as Vaseline, or similar
product will work.
Recommended Inhalation protection:
A nose filter can be used to protect the mucous
membrane of the nasal passages as well as providing
inhalation protection.
['Spray Tans May Be Hazardous
To Health: DHA Approved, But Not For Tanning', UPDATED:
9:41 am EDT May 26, 2004, NewsChannel5.com]
Sunless tanners often contain a range of ingredients
that are harmful. The various ingredients they contain
can be linked to cancer, various developmental and
reproductive effects, allergies, immunotoxicity etc.
Following are some examples of the highest hazard
ranking sunless tanners according to an independent
environmental group 'Skin Deep' Cosmetics'
Safety Database.
Example
#1 :
BANANA BOAT INSTANT SUNLESS
TANNING LOTION, DARK
Ingredients in this product are
linked to:
Developmental/reproductive
toxicity
Violations, Restrictions
& Warnings
Allergies/immunotoxicity
Other concerns
for ingredients used in this product:
Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Organ system
toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple,
additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes,
or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination
concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or
cellular level changes
Skin Deep Hazard Ranking:
10 (out of 10)
Better Products: "100%
of sunless tannings have lower concerns."
Other
concerns for ingredients used in this product:
Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Persistence
and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive),
Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources,
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin
absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational
hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes
Skin Deep Hazard Ranking:
8 (out of 10)
Better Products:: "99%
of sunless tannings have lower concerns."
Other concerns
for ingredients used in this product:
Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Persistence
and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive),
Miscellaneous, Multiple, additive exposure sources,
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin
absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational
hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes
Skin Deep Hazard Ranking:
8 (out of 10)
Better Products: "98%
of sunless tannings have lower concerns."
NEUTROGENA MOISTURE RICH SUNLESS
TANNING LOTION SPF 20 MEDIUM
Ingredients in this product are
linked to:
Developmental/reproductive
toxicity
Violations, Restrictions
& Warnings
Allergies/immunotoxicity
Other concerns
for ingredients used in this product:
Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Organ system
toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Multiple,
additive exposure sources, Irritation (skin, eyes,
or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination
concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or
cellular level changes
Skin Deep Hazard Ranking:
8 (out of 10)
Better Products: "97%
of sunless tannings have lower concerns."
SOUTH BEACH SUN SUNSCREEN PLUS
SELF-TANNER (SPF 4)
Ingredients in this product are
linked to:
Cancer
Developmental/reproductive
toxicity
Violations, Restrictions
& Warnings
Allergies/immunotoxicity
Other concerns
for ingredients used in this product:
Neurotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation,
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous,
Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation
(skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption,
Contamination concerns, Biochemical or cellular
level changes
Skin Deep Hazard Ranking:
8 (out of 10)
Better Products:"98%
of sunless tannings have lower concerns."
L'ORéAL SUBLIME BRONZE
TINTED SELF-TANNING MEDIUM NATURAL TAN
Ingredients in this product are
linked to:
Cancer
Developmental/reproductive
toxicity
Violations, Restrictions
& Warnings
Allergies/immunotoxicity
Other concerns
for ingredients used in this product:
Neurotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation,
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous,
Multiple, additive exposure sources, Irritation
(skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption,
Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards,
Biochemical or cellular level changes
Skin Deep Hazard Ranking:
8 (out of 10)
Better Products: "95%
of sunless tannings have lower concerns."
"I decided I did not want to risk my health anymore for the
sake of beauty... I found out that if I used Safe Tan correctly,
it cost me less than $6.00 for a full body tan! Which was
about half price than a wholesale tan in a booth!
...What
I most love about SAFE TAN is that the colour is never orangy, even
is strong sunshine, and nobody can tell that it is a fake tan. It
is so easy to apply, even my husband does a flawless job on my back.
...And the best thing of all, using Safe Tan I never have any
more problems with the rash and itchiness.
"I LOVE SAFE TAN!!!!! It applies
SO SMOOTHLY! ...I am so happy to finally be able to get a
smooth, even tan! ...now I can get a great tan without
skin cancer or wrinkles.
I
have looked FOREVER for the perfect self tan, and now I've found
it. I'm so happy and confident enough to show my tan
legs in shorts and skirts!"
"I recently ordered a bottle of safe tan and I just wanted
to let you know how happy I am with it! I can't believe I have
finally found a product that looks exactly like a natural tan
and doesn't wash off at all! And doesn't smell at
all!
I am over the moon with safe tan and I will be buying it
all the time from you! Oh, and thanks for the speedy delivery."
Jackie Walkley, Mill Park, VIC
"Safe Tan is without doubt the best fake tanning product
I have ever come across.
Easy
to apply, and it does every single thing it says it does. Beautiful
colour, no streaks, and fades totally naturally. You can apply
it from the tips of your toes to the tips of your fingers with
absolute confidence.
There
are no harsh chemicals or dangerous preservatives to
worry about, and consequently no horrid odors. The maker's claim
it is the choice of a lot of celebrities, and it certainly gets
my vote.
This
is a truly fantastic product." Sarah VanBuren - Boyne Island QLD
