Image courtesy of EvilErin on Flickr
As probable cubicle-dwellers, we spend a lot of time working on our fluorescent-lit pallor, and only occasionally remember to get the fifteen or twenty minutes a day most folks need to keep their Vitamin D production where it ought to be. On the rare occasions we find ourselves expecting to be on an extended outdoor sojourn — usually a vacation or cruise — I can’t say that planning visiting a tanning salon has ever crossed my mind. Personally, my preference is to be outside, whether it’s walking, playing catch, or mowing the lawn, rather than stuffing myself into an ultraviolet phone booth, with no expectation of it being a TARDIS.
It looks like this was a pretty good survival strategy, especially in conjunction with going for the blue drinks on the cocktail menu. Tanning beds, according to the International Association for Research on Cancer, have been placed in the highest risk category for probable cancer causes (“carcinogenic to humans”), along with such august company as cigarettes and asbestos fibers.
It’s estimated that ultraviolet radiation causes about 60,000 deaths annually, 80% of which are from melanoma (skin cancer). With this in mind, tucking oneself into a photon torpedo lined with UV-emitting lights doesn’t seem like an ideal survival strategy.
The use of UV-emitting tanning devices is widespread in many developed countries, especially among young women.Analysis concluded that the risk of skin melanoma is increased by 75 percent when use of tanning devices starts before 30 years of age. Studies provide consistent evidence of a positive association between the use of UV-emitting tanning devices and ocular melanoma. Therefore, the Working Group raised the classification of the use of UV emitting tanning devices to Group 1, ‘carcinogenic to humans.’
– Dr. Fatiha El Ghissassi, co-author of the article in The LANCET
Here are some good ways to avoid becoming part of that 60k statistic:
- Use sunblock. SPF30 and above blocks the vast majority of UV-A and UV-B. Reapply it if you’re very active, or go into the pool or other body of water. This may mean chasing your kids down and becoming That Kind Of Parent.
- Find shade. If you’re out of direct sunlight, that’s gonna help. Be mindful of sources of indirect sunlight, though — bodies of water, or snow — which can reflect quite a bit of it.
- Wear a hat. It’s easy to to forget to put sunscreen on the ol’ noggin, or not want to get it in your hair.
- Limit exposure to shorter intervals (15-20 minutes) if possible. If you’re planning to be outside longer, try to do it early in the morning (before 10AM) or later in the afternoon (after 3pm), when the sun’s rays are less direct.
- If possible, have a little bit of a base tan to avoid getting burned your first time out. Yes, this is exactly why tanning beds were invented, but, as with the stuff we ought to be eating, getting the natural version instead of the artificial one is probably the healthier option.
Related posts:
To be fair, you aren’t supposed to sit in the tanning bed forever. Some girls do it every day and that is just crazy, but if you do it once or twice a week for about 10 minutes, you should be fine.