It’s a warm sunny summer day, but I’m not happy. My skin is bright red, itchy, and peeling. My sister said I should go tanning with her because the UV was high. But it was not worth it, not worth the pain or the fact that I could be at risk for skin cancer.
Tanning is a common hobby during warmer weather seasons, especially for teen girls. Lying by water with your friends is seen as glorious. And having tan or darker skin with obvious tan lines is often admired because, in today’s society, it is seen as attractive.
But most teens don’t recognize the risk that can come along with tanning. Whether it’s the tanning bed, spray tan or sun tanning, there are many risks.
According to Mackoul Pediatrics, 35 percent of teenage girls in the U.S. use tanning beds. Yet, they can put you at risk for developing melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Overall, for people under 35, using a tanning bed can increase your risk of developing skin cancer by 74 percent.
Other sunless tanning products are dangerous as well. According to Evolution Dermatology, some self-tanning products can contain parabens. Parabens are like a preservative that aims to create a longer shelf life and are something you should never put on your skin. They have been linked to skin cancer.
But the worst of them all is the sun. Because of UV rays, sun tanning may damage a person’s immune system., which can make it harder to fight off any diseases, especially Melanoma, a type of skin cancer.
More than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States, so why would you put yourself at more of a risk?
Even if you don’t tan, sunburn is still risky. Getting a sunburn can still increase your risk of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is also not your only worry. Tanning can make you age more. UVA damage is a main factor in premature skin aging. As you age, UV rays can not only affect your skin, but also your eyes and cataracts. If you want to look your best as you age, don’t tan.
You don’t have to hide away in your house your whole life like a bear hibernating. But it’s important to be smart and safe. Wear sun protection of at least 30 SPF, even on cloudy days. Using self-tanners is the safest option if you still want to do something extra to get a tan, rather than tanning beds.
