Well, this is certainly no surprise, but tanning beds have been confirmed by the scientific community as being a cancer causing agent. In fact, they are saying that those that have used tanning beds before they are 30 years old may have as much as a 75% greater chances at getting skin cancer than those who did not go to tanning beds, or do not currently use tanning salons.
This is scary, especially since many people, just like me who are now in their thirties and have wised up and stopped going to tanning beds, did used to go in our youth. I mean, I don’t know about you, but I’m a heck of a lot more concerned about my health over my vanity now than I was when I was in my teens and just trying to get a tan to fit in with all the other girls who were doing it. One thing that has changed since then is that some states have banned young women from using tanning beds, even with parental discretion and signatures, which is definitely a controversial move, but one that some states considered important enough to enact.
Self tanners may become all that much more popular now that the “news” has come out about tanning beds being compared to arsenic and mustard gas as far as cancer causing capabilities. Not only tanning beds are cancerous, but they are saying that ultraviolet exposure of any kind causes cell mutations that often result in skin cancer.
The studies in mice confirmed that those exposed to aritficial UV rays showed genetic mutations indicative of cancer, which was all science really needed to confirm what everyone already kind of knew. Until now, the scientific community classified tanning beds as “probable carcinogens”, while the latest conclusions move them to a list of definite carcinogens, a big step.
Big enough to land this news on the front pages of all major news outlets. I hope that this news really strikes a cord with the younger ladies who are using these beds, and they ignore the propaganda that tanning can be safe when occasional use is indulged in. The problem with that mentality is that, especially if you are very fair, it doesn’t take much exposure to UV light to cause cell mutations and the beginnings of cancer.
It has been said that any skin coloration by the sun or artificial light is indicative of cell damage, so even a light tan indicates that you have damaged your skin. Like I said, all the more reason to explore what your favorite self tanner is and get started fake bronzing instead of fake baking in beds.
