From Beaches to Beds
by JessicaNovember 28th, 2007 at 7:57 PM
Filed under: Consumer Commentary, News Story Commentary
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From magazine covers, to the big screen, trends are introduced to pave the way for what is supposedly the "ideal lifestyle." In today's society, the latest trend seems to lead to premature aging and wrinkles, addiction, and often skin cancer. This new trend has risen lending way for much debate and health issues. This actual trend is tanning beds. As people are more frequently visiting these beds rather than opting for more natural methods the health issues they can cause have become more prevalent. These issues include skin cancer, melanoma, a weakened immune system, and others. The direct exposure to the ultraviolet has undeniably paved the way for more cases of these horrible diseases to grow and prosper. Tanning beds offer the same ultraviolet light that is produced from the sun. However, the intensity of these rays is increasingly higher than the natural sun. The UVA and UVB rays are produced by the bulbs that are inside the conventional beds. "The UVB rays are accountable for stimulating production of the naturally occurring skin pigment melanin. The UVA rays are the ones that oxidize the melanin, producing the golden brown color."(Marlborough). Within in each tanning salon, there are a variety of beds to choose from. When first starting to artificially tan, it is best to use the basic beds. This is to obtain a base tan. The basic beds contain the least amount of UVA and UVB bulbs, and are the least intense. These beds usually come with the choice of a high or low pressure facial tan. The high pressure allows for an instant glowing face that later on fades away. The low pressure facial takes longer to see the results, but they last longer. Most basic beds have a maximum time limit of twenty minutes. However, the amount of time somebody stays in the bed is their personal decision. There are many different higher level beds as well. Most of these have only high pressure bulbs, which tan the body differently than the lower beds. "They utilize only UVA rays and no UVB rays. The term 'high-pressure' refers to the atmosphere inside the lamps or bulbs, which are made out of quartz. The higher air pressure is what allows the lamp or bulb to filter out virtually all UVB rays - the rays that produce burn. The result is a faster, deeper, longer-lasting tan"(Marlborough). These choices that are offered at the conventional tanning salons are hazardous enough. For the most part, people today tan because they want to get results that are produced by the sun, except faster. Taking this into consideration, how easily a person becomes sun burnt does not always cross their mind. Somebody with fair skin may be suggested not to use a high pressure bed right away, or ever, but they will not be turned away if they are willing to pay for it. The employees of the salons are not professionals in the field of dermatology either. Sure the beds have a maximum time limit on them, but one time that will barely alter one person's pigment, could cause sun poisoning for another. The employees just simply put in the desired time of the customer into the computer, not thinking that the maximum length for a fair skinned, red head could be too dangerous. Just a little bit of overexposure to the ultraviolet rays could cause skin to burn. Too much overexposure has the potential to lead to skin cancers, or other trends appearing today. One of these visual trends is premature aging and wrinkles. The UVA rays that produce the golden brown color do this by penetrating the skin. The result is a longer lasting tan. Because of this, many tanning salons are using UVA rays in their higher beds. However, the salons are not informing customers of the dangers of this amazing long lasting tan. "The repeated darkening of the melanin by the UVA rays can cause your skin to thicken. The result of these pigment changes may then cause premature aging of the skin"(Pipkin). The penetration of the UVA rays into your skin does not only darken the pigment and thicken skin, it also break the elasticity down in the skin, and over time, this will also cause premature aging and wrinkles (Croy). There is a misconception of a person's overall appearance after going to a tanning bed. Sure skin will presently be glowing and dark, however, the long term effects of wrinkles and premature aging are not advertised. There is also a serious side effect to artificial tanning that is not as clearly noticed by the people who participate in this. The usage of tanning beds actually causes an addiction. Many people actually make time in their schedule to go tanning and even feel bad if they do not get to go. The tanning addiction is just like a drug addiction. "Researchers looked at frequent tanners -- those who tan eight to 15 times a month. Their study shows that frequent tanners get withdrawal symptoms when given naltrexone, a drug that blocks a narcotic-like substance produced in the skin during tanning. But infrequent tanners who take naltrexone don't get withdrawal symptoms." (DeNoon). The most dangerous long term effect of tanning beds is skin cancer. This more than affects the customer of the tanning salon. If the diagnosis of cancer is serious enough the effects of it can hit home. While people are laying down receiving radiation and darker skin, they do not always think of the risk of possible death. Many studies have proven that the use of tanning beds have highly increased a person's chance at getting melanoma. A study done by a Swedish researcher reinforces this conclusion. "Risk of melanoma more than doubled for those who first began using the lights when 35 or younger, and generally increased with more use of the lights until a person had used the lights more than 250 times. Using commercial lights also more than doubled the risk" (American Cancer Society). The risks of tanning beds have become more prevalent in the recent years. Frequent visitors to tanning beds are searching for a quick tan while ignoring the potential risk factors. There are many alternatives to tanning beds such as spray tans and various lotions. The long term effects of tanning can cause severe illness even death. Personally, I feel that a short term sun glow is not worth long term skin cancer. |
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Show Oldest FirstSunny day outside or ya going to a tan booth?
The employees of the salons are not professionals in the field of health & dermatology. I see this as just
another retail business for profit. I say skip-it and
avoid the added expense to tan yourself. You look fine
to me. Stableman
"XboxNerd,
Cause being pasty white hasn't been popular since the 1700s."
I think he meant people should accept themselves for who they are. I agree with Anonymous, I'm fair-skinned (not "pasty") and so are many models and celebrities. Being fair isn't any better or worse than being tanned. The last thing we need is yet another asinine reason for women to feel insecure about themselves.
thats why i am glad to be spanish
I want a tan, I just take a 30 minute walk without a shirt and I am good for about 1 month
I have to disagree with TheGreatEscape... "pasty" isn't the nicest of discriptive words, but being fair skinned is very beautiful, in my opinion. In fact, if you open a fashion magazine, most of the women have fair skin or look naturally sun kissed. I suppose if you are looking in a men's magazine, the women are more likely to be tanned... But I don't think tan means more beautiful... especially when one tans so much that they are orange and have leathery skin! I am proud to say I am fair skinned, and have never set foot in a tanning booth. I can't say that I have never laid out on the beach, but If I'm going to get skin cancer, at least I can say I didn't pay for it! haha
XboxNerd,
Cause being pasty white hasn't been popular since the 1700s.
-Todd
I always lol when the subject of tanning comes up.
Why are white people trying to get dark?
What's wrong with your original color?
I guess I just don't get the whole tanning craze. Burning perfectly good skin with uv rays on purpose. One of my friends, who is biracial, tans just so people can tell she's biracial. I just shake my head.
Then again, being black, I don't have to worry about stuff like that :p
Your article reminds me of a newspaper article I wrote on tanning beds prior to trying them. Most recently, I asked my dermatologist if I could use them in moderation. She said, "Sure, if you want me hacking on you."
Nice article.