Think Twice Before You Tan

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Nearly 30 million people tan indoors in the United States every year. Of those 30 million, more than one million people are diagnosed with skin cancer according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Despite that fact hundreds of thousands of people still visit tanning salons today. Skin tone nor age matter when it comes to the chances of getting skin cancer. Of the many causes of skin cancer existing, ultra violet radiation from tanning salons is by far at the top of the list. There are studies linking ultraviolet radiation to the deadliest form of skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately one of every five Americans develops skin cancer in his or her lifetime.

Tanning is the result of skin injury and damage. It is the response when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation that makes the skin produce extra pigment to protect itself against the radiation. This pigment makes the skin appear darker and is what gives people the appearance of a tan (Tanning Hazards). The New York State Department of Health states that ultraviolet radiation is a form of energy coming from natural sunlight or an indoor tanning device. Ultraviolet radiation is classified as a carcinogenic to humans and is not visible to the human eye. It is also the major thing causing skin cancer. Not only is skin cancer a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the skin, it can occur anywhere on the body (NY State Dept. Health). The skin has several layers of those the two main layers are: the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the starting place for skin cancer, and is made up of three kinds of cells: squamous (top layer), basal (middle layer), and melanocyetes (bottom layer). The pigment darkening to form the tan take...

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