Banning the Bed
Imagine that you are sixteen. You are overjoyed because you have just received your license and can finally drive whenever and wherever you please. A lot of people have been talking about the new tanning salon that has recently opened up in town. You decide to go and check it out, and discover that tanning is something you really enjoy. Tanning becomes an every-other-day occurrence, but after a year, you notice a mole on your leg that you never noticed before. The mole is cancerous, and it is melanoma. You have cancer, and you are only a teenager.
Tanning salons have always been popular destinations for those who may not spend a lot of time outdoors, or for those who prefer to be tan year-round. Unfortunately, such a business attracts young adults, especially around the time of high school formals. The dangers of tanning are numerous, and introducing oneself to such dangers so early in one’s life is reckless. Tanning is a risk, and tanning at such an early age can be fatal. Currently, the states of California, Illinois, Nevada, Texas, and Vermont have made the educated decision to ban tanning from minors. It would be wise for all remaining states in the United States to follow suite.
Indoor tanning was developed in 1906, originally for medical use. Users would develop more Vitamin D, which would aid in absorbing Calcium. Such treatment benefited anyone suffering from bone diseases. During the 1920s, Coco Chanel, a famous fashion designer, and Josephine Baker, a famous singer, displayed sun kissed skin by the means of tanning. The new look took off (“History of Indoor Tanning” 1). Then, in 1970, the beds were tested on athletes, and found that it gave them a healthy glow. The tanning beds were created to imitate...
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...udy done by the American Academy of Dermatology, 59 percent of tanners were unaware of all the threats that accompany using a tanning bed (Cassidy 2). Cassidy also states that this lack of awareness is partially due to the tanning salons not advertising all information about skin cancer (2). Many salons offer tanning lotions, which are much different than sunscreen lotions. While they may not advertise it as sunscreen, not all customers know the difference. Tanning lotion amplifies UV rays, causing one to absorb more rays more quickly. The lotion contains no sunscreen and does not protect the user from the radiation. Of course, such information is not presented when the salon may try to sell you the product. The unfortunate side effect of such misinformation is that people may contract serious diseases without knowing that those illnesses could have been prevented.
First of all, the history off the tanning bed did not start when tan skin was hip. The first indoor tanning lamp was created for medicinal purposes in 1906. It was used on ricketts patients to help them develop stronger bones .# How does a tanning bed create stronger bones? Sunlight produces vitamin D in the body, which allows absorption of calcium. The absorption of calcium creates stronger bones. This tanning lamp was not thought about again until the 1970s, when a man named Friederich Wolff came along. Wolff used “artificially produced indoor tanning UV light to study athletes and how they might benefit from more exposure to sunlight.”# The artificial indoor light also gave the subjects of his study a darker complexion. In the fifties, the invention of the bikini popularized tanning outdoors significantly.# This trend still remained in the seventies.
Tanning is a commonly used by Caucasian women to cause their skin tone to darken. Melanin is what gives skin its color. Naturally, when we are exposed to sun, the production of a pigment known as melanin starts which itself acts as a deterrent to the burning effects of ultra violet rays of sun (Pakhare). Some Caucasians find it necessary to tan to increase beauty. It is not necessary to tan to increase beauty.
Well-known magazines often have broad headlines that show off celebrities sporting bronzed skin, and these articles often throw around the words “healthy” and “glowy” in a positive context. With this influence subjected upon the general public, indoor tanning has become a popular recreation of American men and women alike. As this new trend continues to rise, medical researchers are beginning to pay close attention to the health effects of indoor tanning, especially when referring to tanning beds, respectively. Through many recent case findings and studies, scientists have linked the use of tanning beds to many dermal health problems including types of skin cancers that are deadly. Despite the fact that tanning beds are detrimental to the dermal health of its victims, the use of tanning beds is on the rise and growing.
In today’s culture, being tan coincides with what is believed to be beautiful. As a result, it is no surprise that in the United States of America, an estimated 922,000 people are currently living with some level of melanoma. Even though the news media and doctors warn people about the risks of too much sun exposure and give information as to how to prevent contracting skin cancer, people are still disregarding this important information and going into the sun for extended periods of time unprotected.
Indoor tanning is a controversial topic and has even been the subject of lawmakers in many states for at least the past ten years. Tanning is a symbol of “health and wealth” for many living in the developed countries and yet it is associated with one of the most deadly cancers known to human beings because of the chemical reaction the Ultra Violet (UV) rays at the cellular level. The research is clear that the use of indoor tanning beds can be dangerous and yet, there are some benefits of using indoor tanning beds. Research has also shown that exposure to UV radiation contributes to the synthesis of Vitamin D in the body, it also can positively boost mood, can heal certain types of skin disorders and may also be helpful for those suffering from fibromyalgia. The indoor tanning industry should make known the risks of using a tanning bed known before selling their use to people. Before one makes a decision to use a tanning bed she should be well informed of the risks and benefits.
The first sign of melanoma is often a change in the size, shape, or color of an existing mole or the appearance of a new mole. Men most commonly develop melanoma on the trunk, particularly the back, and women on the legs or arms. Melanoma develops in a manner similar to other cancer types. A cell's DNA genes, which control cell division and reproduction, become damaged. The damaged genes cause the cell to divide and grow without control or order, eventually becoming a malignant tumor.
Informing you on a everyday thing some girls do, which is tanning. Two main questions you have to ask yourself is it healthy? And will it cause skin cancer ? Well to answer both of those questions you can get skin cancer, and it is healthy for you. Only some parts of it is healthy though, not all of it. And thats what we will be explaining in this paper today. We both do tan so we’re not against it and see the good thing about tanning. Not everyone has to be on our side, some people may like tanning naturally better to begin with.
Over all, skin cancer is known to be a very common and dangerous cancer among the U.S.. Although there is no superior or particular cause known for it, it can be reduced by reducing radiation exposure from the sun and also tanning booths and beds. If not attempting to prevent it by staying out of the sun, and seeking not seeking shade and so forth, protection such as longer clothing garments that better cover the body as well as hats and sunglasses can help to eliminate direct exposure and reduce some of the damages that may occur. Certain amounts of sun light are healthy for the body as it provides vitamin- D which the body needs to maintain a healthy life style, though it is crucial not be over exposed as reverse side affects may occur, causing more harm than good.
Indoor tanning is becoming a very popular “hobby”, but most people do not know, or do not care, about its dangerous side effects. Studies show that people who use tanning booths have a much higher chance of being diagnosed with skin cancer. If someone were to start tanning indoors before they turn 30 or 25, the risk of them getting Melanoma peaks, and if they start tanning before they turn 20 or 25, they are much more likely to get basal and squamous cancer.
Kaur, M., MD. “Tanning Booth Junkies”. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatolody.56:375-9(2007). Web. 15 Mar.2010
Every young girl or woman in America wants their image to look like a Barbie doll. This perfection includes being extremely skinny and extremely tan. In order to achieve this Barbie-like image women and men have been using tanning beds or spray tans to alter their appearance. Tanning beds can prove to be very harmful to a person’s health and can cause extremely dangerous medical conditions, including the most deadly type of cancer. However, fake tans can also be used in a positive way for some people who use them sparingly.
"Recreational tanning was always the hip thing to do back in high school," said Rice. "But when I started to notice skin discoloration on my lower hip during my senior year of high school it wasn't so hip anymore."
Skin cancer is a disease where cancer (malignant) cells are found on the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). The three types of cells found in the epidermis are squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes. These cells in time grow to be cancerous. Thus, the three types of skin cancers are squamous cell, basal cell, and melanoma. Melanoma is the most deadliest and destructive type of cancer. (“Skin Cancer” infotrac.com) The number of people with melanoma has risen in Scotland from 3.5 in 1979 to 10.6 per 100,000 in 1998 for men and 7.0 to 13.1 for women. (Miller 945) Squamous cell and Basal cell skin cancer can kill up to 2,200 people a year in the United States. (Sommerfield SIRS.com) Basal cell, being the most common type of skin cancer, is the cancer that about 75 percent of the people have. (“Skin Cancer “ infotrac.com) Melanoma is mostly seen in older men but ever since tanning came in during the 1970’s, it has increased in women 60 percent around the ages 15-29 over the past three decades.(Sommerfield SIRS.com) “And basal cell and squamous cell cancers are increasing at a rate of about 5 percent per year”(Sommerfield SIRS.com).
Using a tanning bed for a nice bronze or prom? Think again. You’re actually helping up your body’s risk of skin cancer by 75% if under the age of 35 (NCSL). The World Health Organization's International Agency of Research on Cancer have declared ultraviolet radiation from artificial sources, such as tanning beds and sun lamps, to be a well known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) (AAD.org). The federal government needs to further legislate tanning bed exposure by raising the age of usage, limiting the power of the beds and further reduce exposure times.
Water is vital in skin care and treatment of wrinkles. When your skin is dry, it is prone to get wrinkles, so always hydrate your skin by drink eight glasses of plain water daily. This is more or less equivalent to two liters of water. Increase more water if your activity is strenuous as you will perspire more. For better skin nourishment, women should consume 2.7 liters of fluids while men should consume 3.7 liters. This is the total fluid intake including all sources of water such as soup, juice, coffee, ginger ale, and