Skin cancer – a fair trade for a beautiful tan?
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Nancy L. Brown, PhD
A study conducted in 2000 found that 42% of teenage girls had tried indoor tanning, exposing themselves to dangerous ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and possibly explaining the increase in skin-cancer rates among women ages 15 to 29. The National Health Interview Survey, 2005 reports that 8.7% of teens aged 14-17 are using indoor tanning devices and that girls in that age group are seven times more likely than boys to use these devices.
Why are teens risking their health, many with their parents blessing? Is it famous people who sport tans? Do people not understand the risks? Tanning will lead to wrinkles and possibly skin-cancer – dermatologists say that any change in skin color means there is damage.
Everyone needs to avoid the sun and tanning, use sunscreen whenever you are out in the sun, and encourage friends to avoid tanning. The World Health Organization recommends that no person <18 href="http://www.pamf.org/teen/health/skin/sun.html">Skin care and sun or see "Hooked on Tanning"-- an online video from www.HealthPolitics.org that examines the issue of young people spending too much time in tanning booths. This program looks at the big business of tanning and how young people get a kind of physical "high" from tanning that suggests it may be an addictive behavior. Go to Trouble with Tanning to view the video program, which includes a transcript, discussion guide, links to related resources and a slide presentation.
The National Health Interview Survey, 2005 is availalbe at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm
Photo by: Morgan Tepsic
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Labels: Tanning
3 Comments:
At Tue May 15, 06:26:00 AM 2007,
Anonymous said…
Another spring, and many people are baring their legs and feet and other parts without hesitation. The part that bothers me is that a lot of these people are in a category of skin tone that puts them at serious risk of skin cancer. Some people just do not acknowledge any sort of fear of being threatened by the sun. People are worried more about the outward appearance and how people perceive them in terms of beauty. These people obviously are living for the short-term. I concede the fact that I have been affected by comments made by other people concerning my very pale skin. When I don shorts on the rare occasion there are those insecure people that seem very quick to point out my whiteness as if it is something out of place. So, I tend not only for the sun to not expose my body, but also I do not want to hear the constant comments by people I know or do not know about how white I am!! I habitually beyond covering up, I wear a hat and sunglasses always even on the cloudiest of days.
At Sat Jun 23, 01:28:00 AM 2007,
Anonymous said…
I have the same problem, although i will gladly bare my white legs in summer(as long as they're covered with cream). It is ridiculous how some people consider ok to comment on your pale skin as if you haven't succeeded in the tanning process. I quite like the colour of my skin. I'm probably the only one of my friends the same colour all over.
At Sun Mar 09, 07:25:00 AM 2008,
Anonymous said…
There are those believe that pale skin is attractive-so do not ever think everyone is making the negative comments. I find it ruins people's lives when they frie themselves. If people love themselves then it does not matter. If you enjoy the sun and people make comments then go to places at least where people will not know you. This way it will not matter what people think because you do not know them. Somehow people you know or see a lot of the time they can work you up more by the frequent encounters and comments that they may have more of a chance to give. I am pale and I do not care what people think anymore. You get to a point where life is short and who really cares-right? If people have a problem, just say hope you do not go to the cancer ward or something like that. It is so trivial to waste a lot of time on worrying about something nobody can really change. Enjoy your life and keep educating yourself.
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