Despite the warnings of health professional, institutions, governments and charities, many people insist on using tanning beds. We want you to love your body by avoiding tanning beds, and we want to provide you with five startling reasons why.
Reason 1: Melanoma, A Deadly Skin Cancer
According to experts from the American Cancer Society, young people in their teens and early twenties are especially at risk for developing melanoma, which is one of the deadliest cancers due to its ability to spread quickly to other parts of the body. When you use tanning beds regularly before the age of 30, you increase your risk of getting melanoma by 75%. Unfortunately, this age group is highly attracted to tanning. Young people often believe myths about tanning, such as that a base tan will protect the skin from the most harmful UV rays. A second myth regards the healthy tan, but there is no such thing as a “healthy tan.” Tanned skin is sun-damaged skin. Also, in no way is indoor tanning safer because the level of UV exposure is controlled. A high level of UV exposure is unsafe, whether indoors or outdoors. Make sure you understand the cancer risks before using a tanning bed to get ready for a holiday body.
Reason 2: Tanning Beds are Carcinogenic
In 2009, the World Health Organisation moved the status of indoor tanning beds into a high cancer risk category, “carcinogenic to humans.” Such a warning is the same type of warning smokers see on packs of cigarettes, “Warning: Cigarettes Cause Cancer.”
Reason 3: Indoor Tanning Causes Injuries
Did you know that thousands of people visit the hospital yearly due to injuries caused by tanning beds? Skin burns are the most common injuries seen by hospital A&E doctors, but cuts, fainting spells, eye damage, sprains and strains, dislocations, and bruising are common as well.
Reason 4: Warts and Cancer
German scientists have isolated yet another reason why using a tanning bed is harmful — warts. The human papillomavirus, which causes warts, is normally harmless. But, when you combine the virus with UVB rays, it can lead to the growth of cancers such as cervical cancer and skin cancer. How does that happen? The virus causes our normal genetic repair mechanisms to fail which leads to significant risk when the body is exposed repeatedly to UVB rays, as with regular use of a tanning bed.
Reason 5: Ageing Poorly Take a look around at women in their fifties and sixties who have very fair skin, light blonde or red hair, and who have stayed out of the sun. Generally, they have incredibly beautiful, radiant and youthful skin. The key to their success is avoiding UV (ultraviolet) light exposure by tanning outdoors, or indoors in a tanning bed.