| There is overwhelming evidence that tanning bed | | | | millions, knowing that their very lives may be at |
| side effects are damaging to the skin. The whole | | | | risk. |
| object of tanning is to look better. However the | | | | It is an interesting observation that people tan to |
| side effects of tanning are so damaging to the | | | | look young and glamorous but the long term |
| skin that the results can be older looking skin or | | | | effects of exposure to the ultraviolet rays will |
| even death. Some of the most devastating | | | | damage DNA and also damages the skin to the |
| results of the tanning bed side effects include: | | | | point that wrinkles occur more readily in people |
| * Malignant melanoma - This is a skin cancer that | | | | who are frequent sun bathers and users of |
| is developed in the skin cells that give the skin its | | | | tanning booths |
| pigmentation. This form of melanoma has | | | | It is always a good idea if people insist on going |
| increased more rapidly over the last 4 decades | | | | out into the sunlight or into tanning booths to |
| than any other form of cancer. In the United | | | | wear some protective eye wear. Eye damage is |
| States, this type of cancer is responsible for over | | | | another critical effect of using tanning beds. The |
| 80 percent of deaths linked to skin cancer | | | | ultraviolet rays can produce cataracts. Long term |
| * Basal cell carcinoma - This is the most common | | | | exposure to the sun's rays or exposure in a |
| form of skin cancer. This cancer presents as | | | | tanning booth can lead to blindness. |
| shiny pink or a red lump on the skin surface. | | | | Also UV exposure compounds another problem a |
| These little cancers can appear on the face, scalp, | | | | with tissue growth on the white parts of the |
| nose or ears. | | | | eyes. Medical studies linked the extended |
| *Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most | | | | exposure of the eyes to UV rays to patients |
| common type of skin cancer. This cancer | | | | with damaged retinas and macula degeneration. |
| presents as pink lumps on the skin. The skin area | | | | The damage to the body's DNA may be the |
| may look scaly and then becomes a sore. These | | | | second most devastating effects of tanning beds. |
| pink lumps become ulcerated and easily bleed. | | | | This damage can lead to a form of mutations. |
| These pink lumps are found on the face, neck, | | | | The body's defense mechanisms are hampered |
| lips, ears, hands, shoulders, arms and legs. | | | | by extended exposure to UV radiation. The basic |
| The effects of the UV radiation from the sun or | | | | cellular structure of the body is compromised |
| the UV radiation of tanning beds are the same. | | | | which leaves the body with no defense against |
| Ultra violet radiation causes all three types of skin | | | | cancer. |
| cancer. Why UV rays cause cancer is well known. | | | | The really bad news is that tanning beds emit |
| Why people continue to use tanning beds when | | | | more UV radiation than the sun. So the UV rays |
| the effects are documented is a subject worthy | | | | are more damaging to the body in a shorter span |
| of discussion. | | | | of time. The rays from a tanningbed is UVA rays |
| Beautiful golden tanned skin is almost a fashion | | | | rather than the UV rays that come from the sun. |
| accessory. | | | | Even thought theserays do not burn the skin like |
| Individuals will go to any length to be in fashion. | | | | the sun, they go deeper into the skin surface and |
| Even at the expense of their health, fashion | | | | cause more damage. |
| conscious people go into to tanning salons by the | | | | |