The Negative Effects of Tanning Beds

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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.
Tanning affects the human skin through ultraviolet radiation, part of the spectrum of light that omits from the sun to the surface of the earth. Ultraviolet A rays are the longer ultraviolet rays that are projected, and these rays penetrate deep into the layers of skin, causing a tanning effect (Harvard Women's Health Watch, 2). It does this by penetrating into the lower layers of skin, or the epidermis, and triggering cells known as melanocytes to make melanin, the brown pigment that causes tanning (Hyde, Patrice, MD, 1). They account for most of the ultraviolet components emitted by lamps in tanning beds, because they are associated with an almost immediate tanning effect (Brady, Mary S, 2). The shorter rays are ultraviolet B rays, and these rays only reach the outer superficial skin cell layer, also known as the epidermis (Harvard Women's Health Watch, 2). UVB rays, therefore, are the actual cause of sunbur...

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Hyde, Patrice, MD. "Indoor Tanning." Indoor Tanning. Teen Health, July 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
Levine, Jody A., MD, Michael Sorace, MD, James Spencer, MD, and Daniel M. Siegel, MD. "The Indoor UV Tanning Industry: A Review of Skin Cancer Risk, Health Benefit Claims, and Regulation." Special Article 53.6 (2010): 1038-043. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
Polsky, David, MD, and Steven Q. Wang, MD. "Skin Cancer Facts." Skincancer.org. Skin Cancer Foundation, 9 Oct. 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
Schulman, Joshua M., and David E. Fisher. "Abstract." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 28 Aug. 0005. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.

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