2008 Woodie Awards
Cancer and tanning go hand in hand
By: Jacqueline Barela
Issue date: 5/27/04 Section: Opinion
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Working on a bronze golden tan has quickly become one of the hottest fashion fads, but the risks that come along with it haven't.
Sitting out in the heat of the sun for hours while applying tons of tanning oil may help some people achieve that golden look they want; however, it can also be accompanied by some damaging skin problems.
Repeated exposure to UV rays can cause skin cancer and premature aging of the skin, which can lead to wrinkles eariler then expected.
Sunscreen can only protect a person for so long. Also, most usually apply sunscreen once and it is typically a low SPF.
There are three types of skin cancer: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and the more serious Malignant Melanoma.
Damaging the skin cells causes these cancers; the specific type of cancer depends on the nature of the damage and the pigmentation of the patient's skin tone.
Aside from outdoor tanning there are alternative methods to achieving the golden tone some desire.
A popular method of tanning, that has grown in the last seven years is indoor tanning beds or booths.
The UV rays a person is exposed to while in a tanning bed are UVA, less damaging than UVB rays given off by the sun. The UVA rays have a longer wavelength, which prevent people from burning.
Over a short period of time and repeated exposure to tanning beds a person not only can get a nice tan, but cancer too.
There are a few different methods to receiving the tan we all crave so much, which don't involve the sun, or any UV rays at all.
Sunless tanning is another method of obtaining a golden tan. It usually comes in a foam, spray or lotion. Sunless tanning basically dyes the skin a darker shade.
A few drawbacks to a sunless tan are a fading color; it only lasts for a few weeks with repeated application.
Applying it by yourself can lead to a zebra like look because it causes streaks or stripes in the color. It can also make someone's skin tone look strange and give it unnatural yellow tint.
Sitting out in the heat of the sun for hours while applying tons of tanning oil may help some people achieve that golden look they want; however, it can also be accompanied by some damaging skin problems.
Repeated exposure to UV rays can cause skin cancer and premature aging of the skin, which can lead to wrinkles eariler then expected.
Sunscreen can only protect a person for so long. Also, most usually apply sunscreen once and it is typically a low SPF.
There are three types of skin cancer: Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and the more serious Malignant Melanoma.
Damaging the skin cells causes these cancers; the specific type of cancer depends on the nature of the damage and the pigmentation of the patient's skin tone.
Aside from outdoor tanning there are alternative methods to achieving the golden tone some desire.
A popular method of tanning, that has grown in the last seven years is indoor tanning beds or booths.
The UV rays a person is exposed to while in a tanning bed are UVA, less damaging than UVB rays given off by the sun. The UVA rays have a longer wavelength, which prevent people from burning.
Over a short period of time and repeated exposure to tanning beds a person not only can get a nice tan, but cancer too.
There are a few different methods to receiving the tan we all crave so much, which don't involve the sun, or any UV rays at all.
Sunless tanning is another method of obtaining a golden tan. It usually comes in a foam, spray or lotion. Sunless tanning basically dyes the skin a darker shade.
A few drawbacks to a sunless tan are a fading color; it only lasts for a few weeks with repeated application.
Applying it by yourself can lead to a zebra like look because it causes streaks or stripes in the color. It can also make someone's skin tone look strange and give it unnatural yellow tint.