MY THOUGHTS

Although I want to look good along with everyone else this summer, I think that the government should be allowed to regulate the amount of time I am tanning. The Government is looking out for our best interest and does not want anyone to have cancer and other problems if possible. I want to have healthy skin that fits my age, so I will always use sunscreen when outside for a long period of time and spend minimal time in the tanning bed if possible. I have seen many pictures of the different types of skin cancers and I do not want my skin to look like that. I now appreciate what the government is doing for me.

2 Billion Doallar Market

The tanning industry is a 2 billion dollar market that targets mainly sixteen to thirty year old women. Everyone tans because it is cheap and only takes a little of your time a day to look good. Depending on how long one wants to go tanning and the type of bed one uses, the prices flexuates anywhere from one dollar to over seven dollars
( Fig. 1). Skin damage is the true price of tanning though. The tanning industry not only is huge because of tanning itself, but a lot of the profit comes from the lotions; such as tinglers and bronzers that are suppose to help tan one faster.

Altrnatives To Tanning That Are Safe

There are some alternatives to tanning that are safe. One way to bronze is with sunless self-tanners. These are also known as tans in a bottle. They contain dihydroxyaetone which gradually stains the dead cells in ones skins outer layers. These types of fake bakes last from days to several weeks. There are many different types of self tanners. There are sprays, lotions and towelettes that are very easy to use. To gain a subtle tan use a moisturizer that contains a modest amount of fake tanner. These methods are very inexpensive. Due to recent improvements in these sunless products, demand for them has sky rocketed. Just because these products darken ones skin does not mean that they protect one from UV rays. Sunless tanning lotions come in light, medium, and dark tones. Some salons offer airbrush tanning. Airbrush tans may look more like a natural tan with more even results. Airbrush tanning is all natural and is cheap. They last for weeks and one can keep having it redone. Sunless tanning is safer than regular tanning but using those products and being out in the sun sometimes accentuates the damage done to the skin. Read the label and look for an active ingredient called DHA. DHA is used in these self tanners to help protect one from the suns natural rays and to prevent sun damage to the skin.

Understanding The Real Dangers Of Tanning

Most people do not understand the real dangers of tanning, whether it is indoor or outdoor. Tanning is hard on the skin and if one goes tanning enough it can age one pretty bad. So why does everyone continue doing it? People want to be tan year round and most people do not have time to tan everyday outside so they will just stop by a salon on the way home from work and tan real fast. It seems to give people the comfort of looking better instead of just being pale.

Melanin

Some believe that tanning accelerators are helpful in speeding up the production of melanin. They say it takes eight to twelve minutes for melanin to start producing. By using an accelerator it is said to knock the time down to three to six minutes. There is no real proof that these do anything for oneself. Most of the time it is a moisturizer that helps with dry skin .

When Are Sun Rays Most Dangerous?

The sun’s rays are most dangerous between the hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm. During those hours one should take frequent breaks either indoor or in a shaded area. Another method for protecting oneself against the sun is to wear a hat with a brim and sunglasses that provide ultraviolet protection. Wearing proper clothing that covers a good amount of the skin is also a great idea for protection!

Problems Tanning Creates

Tanning creates many problems not just for us now but also for us in the future. Receiving at least five burns as a child severely increases ones risk of cancer at an older age. Since staying out of the sun is not really an option there are many things that one can do to help prevent sun damage. Sunscreens and sun blocks are the best methods for defense from the suns harmful rays. Wearing a sunscreen on a daily basis with at least and SPF of fifteen is a good idea because 80% of sun exposure is accidental. There are many forms of sunscreen such as lotions, sprays and wipes that are made to help create the best coverage. It is recommended to read the label to make sure the sunscreen or sun block that one is using protects from both UVA and UVB rays. These types of lotions are generally more effective anyways. Reapplying sunscreen after every couple of hours is essential for the best protection. When swimming or sweating make sure to apply every hour even though it might be water proof, because water attracts twice as many rays causing chances for more burns. Even though one does not feel or receive a burn, UVA rays can still be harming the skin.

Benefits To Tanning

There are a few benefits to tanning. The skin produces vitamin D in a response to sun exposure. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium which helps strengthen the bones in your body and many other things. Ultraviolet radiation is also used in the medical field to treat psoriasis and vitiligo. These are skin conditions, usually that you are born with that makes you have lighter splotches of skin all over. It would not completely fix the problem but would help blend the two skin tones better. Ultraviolet rays are also a temporary way to treat or hide acne.

When Do We Draw The Line

So where do one draw the line when it comes to being tan or unhealthy? This year 10,600 people will die from more than one million new cases of skin cancers and 106,000 people discover they have cancer. One and five Americans are expected to develop a skin cancer in their life time. The most common kind of cancer received for sun tanning is melanoma. Fair skinned people are at a higher risk of receiving it because they tend to burn easier. Although it is curable, if not caught in time it can spread throughout the whole body and become fatal. Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most comma type of skin cancer. Basal cells are in the deepest layer of the epidermis and when turned cancerous they raise to the outer layer of the skin. This type of cancer is also curable but leaves unattractive spots on the outer layer of the skin.

Is Indoor Tanning Safer then Regular Sun Tanning?

One of the major controversies of tanning is that, indoor tanning is a safer method compared to regular sun tanning. There is enough evidence out there though to prove that wrong. It is said that tanning beds are more likely to damage ones eyes and burn the skin easier because one is in such a confined close area . Also, tanning beds are not approved for all people. It is ecommended that pregnant women, people on certain medication or people with certain illness do not tan.

Food and Drug Administration

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that all sun bed manufacturers provide warning labels as well as advice on wearing protective goggles. In most states including Kansas, a law has been passed that says anyone under sixteen cannot indoor tan and if one is sixteen but under eighteen one has to have parental permission. Not wearing goggles while tanning can cause severe damage to the eyes. It can cause cataracts that have to be surgically removed. Also, excessive use of ultraviolet rays can cause damage to the retina.

What Does Tanning Cause?

Just because one likes tanning does not always mean it is a good thing to be doing. Tanning causes wrinkles, brown age spots, blotchiness and leathery looking skin. UVA rays tan one, but can cause a lot of damage still. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin. Sometimes they can reach clear to the dermis, where the blood vessels and nerves are. This can damage the immune system which fights diseases and illnesses like melanoma the most serious type of skin cancer. If this happens it can also prevent ones immune system from fighting none related sun illnesses.

How Does One Get Tan?

So how does one get a tan? The sun contains two types of ultraviolet radiation that connects with the skin. They are called UVA and UVB rays. UVB radiation burns the upper layers of skin causing sunburns. UVA radiation is what makes one tan. UVA rays reach the lower layers of the epidermis where melanocytes cells produce melanin. Melanin is the brown pigment that causes ones skin to tan. Melanin is what protects the skin from burning. Darker skinned people tan more deeply than lighter skinned people because they produce more melanin. Even though one does not burn, it does not mean one is protected

Tanning Today

Today tanning is more of a social event. Society has this idea that everyone needs the perfect tan to go with the perfect body. Tanning is popular among eighteen to thirty year old women mostly and some men. All of them want that great tan year round because during the cold season one cannot just go outside and lay by the pool to tan. The peak times for tanning are in December, usually before high school winter formals and in May before high school prom. In June right before the summer season begins tanning is real popular because everyone wants to get a head start on their tans before they head on their summer vacations to the beach. There are about 28 million people who tan a year in about 25,000 tanning salons around the United States.

Tanning Background

Tanning all started in 1923 when fashion designer Coco Chanel went on a cruise from Paris to Cannes with a French noble man. She was seen getting off the yacht with him and people noticed that she also had a darker complexion about her, which she claimed she got from staying out in the sun too long. Everyone was wild about her new look. Her tan became the latest fashion trend; for during this time loose clothes were worn that covered up everything. After the tan was discovered people, especially women began to wear tighter fitting clothes that covered less, so they could show off their tans. The two piece swim suit became very popular. It was not until the eighties that indoor tanning came alive. This was such a great idea because people could get a basic tan after just a few sessions and trips after that would enhance their golden bronze look. All it took was a little money and a few minutes of your day to look tan.

Maturing Industry

The tanning industry is a 2 billion dollar market that targets mainly sixteen to thirty year old women. Everyone tans because it is cheap and only takes a little of your time a day to look good. Depending on how long one wants to go tanning and the type of bed one uses, the prices flexuates anywhere from one dollar to over seven dollars ( Fig. 1). Skin damage is the true price of tanning though. The tanning industry not only huge because of tanning itself, but a lot of the profit comes from the lotions; such as tinglers and bronzers that are suppose to help tan one faster.

Government Reguations

Should government be allowed to regulate the amount of time one can tan? Tanning has been around since 1923. It was brought about by famous designer Coco Chanel. Tanning can be very controversial issue based on some believe that it is good for you and some believe that it is bad for you? What about skin cancer; years down the road is it worth it? Is having the perfect tan everything? Tanning does help treat some skin problems even though it creates a lot. The tanning industries has profited over 2 billion dollars and is still climbing. So why is it profiting so much if tanning is bad?

What is UV Radiation?

Hey readers....I created this blog to explain to you what effect tanning can cause.....So before I can sit here and discuss the harmful effects of tanning equipment and increased sun exposure, one should first be familiar with the components of ultraviolet light and how it can affect your skin. Sunlight contains two different types of ultraviolet (UV) light. UVA and UVB. UVA rays consist of longer wavelength that penetrate deep into the dermal layer of skin. Limited exposure to UVA rays causes skin to tan, however, most experts agree that overexposure to UVA can lead to long-term skin damage. UVB rays wavelengths are much shorter, affecting the outer most layer of skin. "Burning Rays" are know as UVB rays and are very dangerous. Tanning beds and sun lamps generally emit 93%-99% UVA radiation. That is 3 times the UVA radiation given off by the sun!