April 30, 2007 Hello! For some high school students, the past few weeks have involved getting ready for prom. Still others have been getting ready for summer. Whatever the reason, students around the country have been "working on their tans" (whether or not there has been any sun).
"A recent study of more than 10,000 teens across the US
found that tanning bed use was increasing, especially among
adolescent girls. This does not bode well for the health
of the nation. In 1994, a Swedish study found that women
18-30 years old who visited tanning parlors 10 times or
more a year had seven times greater incidence of melanoma
than women who did not use tanning salons. ... And in 2002,
a study from Dartmouth Medical School found that tanning
device users had 2.5 times the risk of squamous cell
carcinoma and 1.5 times the risk of basal cell carcinoma .
And yet, even with all this evidence, the tanning salons
remain unrepentant." Those who are tempted to try a tanning salon because they live in a place that doesn't get that much sun form much of the year, think they look better with a tan, or think that tanning salons are safer might want to consider the long term effects of tanning bed use.
"Tempted to try a tanning salon? Maybe you've heard that
sunbeds only use 'safe' UVA light, avoiding the UVB light
that causes burning. But unfortunately it's not that
simple. UVA rays can cause just as much -- if not more --
damage than UVB rays because they penetrate the skin more
deeply. In fact, doctors say that the use of tanning salons
is one reason they're treating more young patients for skin
cancer. ... The sun's rays contain two types of ultraviolet
radiation that affect your skin: UVA and UVB. UVB radiation
burns the upper layers of skin (the epidermis), causing
sunburns. UVA radiation penetrates to the lower layers of
the epidermis, where it triggers cells called melanocytes
(pronounced: mel-eh-no-sites) to produce melanin. Melanin
is the brown pigment that causes tanning. Both UVA and UVB
rays contribute to skin aging. Both types also can cause
potentially cancerous changes in your cells' DNA. And,
according to a recent study, radiation from just 10
indoor-tanning sessions in 2 weeks can suppress a person's
cancer-fighting immune system. Although tanning beds use
UVA light, the concentration of UVA rays from a tanning bed
is greater than that from the sun. And, despite
manufacturer claims, some tanning lamps do also emit UVB
light. So if you try indoor tanning, you'll absorb far more
rays in the long run, significantly age your skin, and put
yourself at even greater risk for skin cancer." What about all the claims from tanning salons stating that they are safe?
"The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) share responsibilities in the
regulation of sunlamps and tanning devices. The FDA
enforces regulations that deal with labels on the devices;
the FTC investigates false, misleading, and deceptive
advertising claims about the devices." The Federal Trade Commission found several "false, misleading, and deceptive advertising claims" that caused them to issue a Consumer Alert. A few highlights of that Alert follow:
"FTC Consumer Alert 'You can achieve a deep year-round tan with gentle, comfortable, and safe UVA light.' "Ultraviolet light is divided into two wavelength bands. Shortwave ultraviolet rays called UVB can burn the outer layer of skin. Longwave ultraviolet rays called UVA penetrate more deeply and can weaken the skin’s inner connective tissue. Long-term exposure to the sun and to artificial sources of ultraviolet light contributes to the risk of developing skin cancer. Two types of skin cancer, basal cell and squamous cell, are treatable if detected early. Melanoma, another type of skin cancer, can be fatal.
'No harsh glare, so no goggles or eye shades are
necessary.'
'Tan year round without the harmful side effects often
associated with natural sunlight.'
'No danger in exposure or burning.' While they may have heard about skin reactions, many teens consider them minor and think that they will have many years before they see any damaging effects from their indoor tanning.
" ‘Indoor tanning is simply not safe,’ said dermatologist
James M. Spencer, M.D., one of the authors of the article.
‘A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
showed that there were 700 emergency room visits because of
injuries like sunburns, infections, and eye damage from
tanning bed use. In addition to these immediate injuries,
tanning bed users have an increased risk of developing skin
cancer, including the most deadly form, melanoma, in the
long term.’ ... [T]he new high-pressure UVA sunlamps can
emit doses of UVA that can be as much as 15 times that of
the sun, significantly increasing a tanning bed user’s skin
cancer risk. ‘If you really want to look tan, consider
using a sunless self-tanning product,’ Dr. Spencer said." Even the "long term effects" may show up sooner than expected.
"When Charlie was diagnosed with 4th stage melanoma, she
was 25 years old and life couldn’t have been better. She
had graduated three-and-a-half years before from Brown
University, planning on going to medical school. ... She
died on Nov. 24, 2003, eight months after her initial
diagnosis." Charlie didn't spend more time than others her age out in the sun, yet "Charlie was diagnosed with 4th stage melanoma..."
"Although scientists have known for some time that too much
UV radiation can be harmful, new information makes these
warnings even more important. Some scientists have
suggested recently that there may be an association between
UVA radiation and malignant melanoma, the most serious type
of skin cancer. ... 'Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation
is the most preventable cause of skin cancer." With teens and young adults showing up in emergency rooms and skin cancer rates on the rise, many states have legislation to limit teen usage of tanning salons. Still other states are still working to get legislation passed.
"State Sen. James Timilty, D-Walpole, has refiled
legislation to keep teens younger than 16 out of tanning
salons. Teens who are 17 or 18 would need written parental
consent to use tanning beds. Timilty said he refiled the
legislation, similar to a bill he filed last spring,
because he said Massachusetts has a high rate of skin
cancer and melanoma deaths, compared with the rest of the
country. ... According to the National Cancer Institute,
Massachusetts has a skin cancer mortality rate 18 percent
above the national average. Additionally, the state has a 4
percent higher rate of melanoma diagnosis. ... Dr. Kathryn
Bowers, president of the Massachusetts Academy of
Dermatologists, said teens who want a tanned look have
healthier options, such as bottle and spray tans. The
products have improved in quality over the years, and she
often cannot tell the difference between fake and real
tans."
Questions of the Week:
If you are in a state that currently has laws restricting
the use of tanning salons for teens, what effect do you
think the legislation has had? If you are in a state that
does not currently have laws regarding teen tanning salon
use (or in a state that is considering it), what effects
would such legislation have on the behaviors of your
friends, family members, and peers?
Please email me with any ideas or suggestions. I look forward to reading
what you have to say. Cindy |
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