Tanning & Solariums
The truth about tanning
It is fair to say that the high rates of skin cancer in Australia are probably, in some way, due to the popular but unwise belief that having a tan is healthy. The truth is, every time we expose ourselves to the sun or solarium we are damaging our skin.
A tan doesn’t protect your skin; it actually causes irreversible damage. Over exposure to UV can cause freckles, blotches, wrinkles and worst of all, skin cancer.
While the sun helps your body produce vitamin D, deliberately exposing yourself to sunlight doesn’t provide you with any health benefits whatsoever. More than enough sunlight is received for vitamin D production by simply sitting near a window or from as little as a few minutes outside during the day.
Skin aging and skin cancer are delayed effects which don’t usually present themselves for many years after exposure. Since the damage being done is not immediately evident many young people are unaware of the damage they are doing to their skin by tanning.
While most skin cancers can be easily treated and cured, if not detected early skin cancer such as melanoma can be fatal.
The truth about solariums
A lot of people believe that tanning in a solarium is safe. Makers of tanning beds claim that the beds only emit UVA and therefore the tan given is safe. This is not true. Some beds emit both UVA and UVB and, the amount of UVA emitted can be up to five times more than natural sunlight.
The fact is all UV light, which causes skin to tan, will contribute to the development of skin cancer. Also, UVA penetrates the skin deeper than UVB and may cause even more damage. UVA also causes premature aging and wrinkling of the skin. There is also a suspected link with melanoma to UVA, so by using a solarium you may be putting yourself at greater risk of developing this deadly form of skin cancer.
Solarium operators are required, under the Australian Standards for Solariums, to warn all patrons of the risks associated.
The Cancer Council of Australia has warned against the use of solariums.
Using a fake tanning product is a much safer alternative to getting a tan in the sun or in a solarium as they are painted, rubbed or sprayed onto the skin. Most fake tans however, give you no protection from the sun. It is therefore imperative that sunscreen and all other skin protection precautions are followed.