Dangers of Tanning Beds

         When you see someone with a deep dark tan, what is the first thing that you think? I don’t know about you, but I don’t think, “skin cancer.” Tanning in a tanning bed has been studied over and over again, and each time the results are consistent, tanning increases your risk of skin cancer exponentially. But how much of an effect does indoor tanning have on skin cancer? According to one studies finding, people who had ever used an indoor tanning device were about 75% more likely to have developed melanoma (Indoor Tanning, 2010). That’s reason to be concerned, if you ask me.

(Mitchel, 2010)

        Even with the know risk big tanning companies, such as Darque Tan continue to stay in business. Why you might as, well I believe it is due partly to advertising and its emphasis put on body image. You can flip through almost any teen magazine and see at least one advertisement for a self tanner, but in the editorial theyalways make mention about applying carefully to avoid streaking. This is one reason I believe people chose to tan in a tanning bed over self tanners.

        As humans we are influenced and want to look like the people in the advertisement; these people usually have a beautifully dark tan. Therefore tanning becomes a must have, especially for most high school age females. Knowing the high risk of skin cancer 11 percent of teenage girls say they tan religiously, according to Fitness Magazine. This makes me ask the question, “If advertisements had more people with lighter skin, would lighter skin start to be more accepted as a beauty secret?”

Work Cited



"Indoor tanning and risk of melanoma: a case-control study in a highly exposed population." Published online May 27, 2010 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. First author: DeAnn Lazovich, PhD, professor of epidemiology, University of Minnesota School of Publish and co-leader of the Masonic Cancer Center’s Prevention and Etiology Research Program

Mitchel, D. (Photographer). (2010). Sun quest. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.healblog.net/health-news/tanning-beds-lead-to-the-appearance-of-skin-cancer