The Effect of Tanning Beds on the American Society Have you ever seen commercials on television advertising allergy medications? The advertisement states that taking the medication can cause abnormal sleep patterns, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, itching, watery eyes, rashes, and headaches. A conclusion could be made that the side effects of the product would be much worse than the allergy problem. However, people still purchase the product. The lengths an average person will go in order to get a quick fix is amazing. It is this way of thinking that makes tanning beds so popular. Over the last decade, cancer causing tanning beds have given self-image issues to people across the world. First of all, the history off the tanning bed did not start when tan skin was hip. The first indoor tanning lamp was created for medicinal purposes in 1906. It was used on ricketts patients to help them develop stronger bones .# How does a tanning bed create stronger bones? Sunlight produces vitamin D in the body, which allows absorption of calcium. The absorption of calcium creates stronger bones. This tanning lamp was not thought about again until the 1970s, when a man named Friederich Wolff came along. Wolff used “artificially produced indoor tanning UV light to study athletes and how they might benefit from more exposure to sunlight.”# The artificial indoor light also gave the subjects of his study a darker complexion. In the fifties, the invention of the bikini popularized tanning outdoors significantly.# This trend still remained in the seventies.
The impacts of this behaviour not only prevent people to get sunburn or skin erythema but also can reduce the risk of skin cancer. In addition, it can raise the awareness of sun protection so as to change the people’s attitude of sun protection.
Tanning is a commonly used by Caucasian women to cause their skin tone to darken. Melanin is what gives skin its color. Naturally, when we are exposed to sun, the production of a pigment known as melanin starts which itself acts as a deterrent to the burning effects of ultra violet rays of sun (Pakhare). Some Caucasians find it necessary to tan to increase beauty. It is not necessary to tan to increase beauty.
"Recreational tanning was always the hip thing to do back in high school," said Rice. "But when I started to notice skin discoloration on my lower hip during my senior year of high school it wasn't so hip anymore."
In today’s culture, being tan coincides with what is believed to be beautiful. As a result, it is no surprise that in the United States of America, an estimated 922,000 people are currently living with some level of melanoma. Even though the news media and doctors warn people about the risks of too much sun exposure and give information as to how to prevent contracting skin cancer, people are still disregarding this important information and going into the sun for extended periods of time unprotected.
Well-known magazines often have broad headlines that show off celebrities sporting bronzed skin, and these articles often throw around the words “healthy” and “glowy” in a positive context. With this influence subjected upon the general public, indoor tanning has become a popular recreation of American men and women alike. As this new trend continues to rise, medical researchers are beginning to pay close attention to the health effects of indoor tanning, especially when referring to tanning beds, respectively. Through many recent case findings and studies, scientists have linked the use of tanning beds to many dermal health problems including types of skin cancers that are deadly. Despite the fact that tanning beds are detrimental to the dermal health of its victims, the use of tanning beds is on the rise and growing.
Indoor tanning is a controversial topic and has even been the subject of lawmakers in many states for at least the past ten years. Tanning is a symbol of “health and wealth” for many living in the developed countries and yet it is associated with one of the most deadly cancers known to human beings because of the chemical reaction the Ultra Violet (UV) rays at the cellular level. The research is clear that the use of indoor tanning beds can be dangerous and yet, there are some benefits of using indoor tanning beds. Research has also shown that exposure to UV radiation contributes to the synthesis of Vitamin D in the body, it also can positively boost mood, can heal certain types of skin disorders and may also be helpful for those suffering from fibromyalgia. The indoor tanning industry should make known the risks of using a tanning bed known before selling their use to people. Before one makes a decision to use a tanning bed she should be well informed of the risks and benefits.
With UV tanning you can do it anytime of the year or for a specific event. The health benefits for UV tanning is that you can get vitamin D, which is an important part in your bone and muscular health. It also improves your mood and it improves your appearance. When you tan with UV lights it can help prevent you from getting the sunburn you would normally get when you go outdoor tanning. Since you don’t get much sun in the winter, UV tanning can help with being vitamin D deficient. When UV lights, lasers or lamps are mixed with medication it can help with ...
Indoor tanning is becoming a very popular “hobby”, but most people do not know, or do not care, about its dangerous side effects. Studies show that people who use tanning booths have a much higher chance of being diagnosed with skin cancer. If someone were to start tanning indoors before they turn 30 or 25, the risk of them getting Melanoma peaks, and if they start tanning before they turn 20 or 25, they are much more likely to get basal and squamous cancer.
Chang, H. "Addiction to Indoor Tanning: Relation to Anxiety, Depression, and Substance Use.” JAMA 303.22 (2010): 2232. Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 15 Mar.2011.
Everyone has their own opinion about the use of indoor tanning beds. Some people love to tan because they like the way their skin looks after, others don’t care for the idea of “fake baking” during the winter months. For many years now people have been trying to pass bills/laws to ban all minors from using indoor tanning beds. Many states have already passed laws saying anyone younger than 16 cannot tan indoor and so 16 years and older have to have parent consent in order to use a tanning bed.
Have you ever seen someone who was so usually tan that their skin almost looked leathery? Or someone who just couldn't go a day without tanning? On average over one million people spend their money on tanning. Unfortunately, this isn't just a fun hobby, these people are at risk. People who tan excessively are what dermatologist call tanorexics. People who are tanorexics see their complexion and wish it were different. They feel self conscious when others are more tan than they are. Although wanting to be tan may not always be a bad thing many people take it to far. Tanorexia is a tanning addiction most young adults have that is caused by mental illnesses and is also a replacement for drugs and alcohol, and leads to horrible diseases such as skin cancer.
Bishop, Larry. “Doctor: Tanning Beds are Literally Gives users a killer tan.” Florida Today. 25 Ap. 2013: n.p SIRS Issues Researchers. Web. 16 May. 2014
Indoor tanning increases the risk of developing melanoma because the amount of ultraviolet radiation given off is more than the sun would give off if a person was outside of a summer day. Statistics from Melanoma Research Foundation shows, from one blistering sunburn the chances of developing melanoma later in life. In addition, “using tanning beds before age 30 increases your risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent” (Melanoma Research Foundation). The occasional use of tanning bed can triple your chances. Also, the more sessions, hour and years a person spends tanning increases a person to a higher risk of developing many types of skin cancer (Melanoma Research Foundation). People might think they can “safe tan” but tanning damages the skin cells giving off the color. “Researcher suggests cumulative damage to skin cells can lead to wrinkles, age spots, premature aging and skin cancer. Tanning has been classified as too dangerous the several countries have made indoor tanning illegal” (Melanoma Research Foundation). People try to give themselves an excuse to tan for example, getting that “base tan” before vacations but base tans do not really help a person protect themselves against sunburn but actually gives minimal sun protection. Tanning has risk but some small studies have shown that naloxone a drug that blocks the withdrawal
In the early 1900’s, tanning beds and spray tans became increasingly popular in other countries. During WWII is when women in America became specifically interested in fake tans, and that is when the first
Tanning can boost a person’s mood, and it can also enhance his or her confidence. A golden glow caused by a tan makes most people feel good about themselves. Sun tanning and laying in a tanning bed can give a person a golden glow and also help a person to relax. Sometimes a person needs to let their worries fade away for a little bit and these tanning methods can do that for some people. Tanning helps cope with stress and depressions as stated in the text “tanning has known to improve seasonal affective disorder” which is a type of depression that a person goes through around the same time every year (Banerjee). For many people tanning is not even on their mind for example, kids could swim all day long and not even notice he or she were tanning or maybe even getting a sun burn. He or she may think they are just having a good time outside but do not realize what may be happening to their skin. Also, another way people get sun exposure without realizing it is by playing sports or attending an outdoor sporting event. Many people work outside under the sun all day. These people need to be educated on the effects of the sun and how to protect