I know how it feels to want to get that beautiful tan. Trust me, I do. People look much healthier, thinner, happier when their tan, right?
Wrong!
You know that heading to the tanning booth isn't a good option for your skin, but perhaps when you learn the tanning booth dangers from the FDA, you'll see the light and stay out of it.
1. Sunburn
Sure, sunburn is a word we all know. You've probably even had a sunburn in your lifetime. I always thought I turned pink because I was literally "burned". It's a little more complicated than that.
Do you know what sunburn really is? The sun (or tanning booth) damages your epidermis, the outermost layer of your skin. The reason your skin turns pink is because your immune system sends extra blood to the damaged area. That extra blood is what causes the warm skin and flushing sensation.
When you start noticing the peeling, it's because the white blood cells take charge by removing the damaged skin cells.
One blistering sunburn will double your risk of getting melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
2. Tan Skin
Tan skin is healthy skin, right?
Again, wrong!
We're brought up with the idea that the beautiful people in the world are tan, but it's not realistic. Simply put, sun tan is simple skin damage. It's not healthy or beautiful, it's damaged skin.
I'm sure you or someone you know has the idea that by getting a tan you're safe from getting a burn. In fact, how many of us have tanned before a vacation so we won't burn while we're there? Did you know that tan skin has an SPF of only 2-4? Obviously not worth damaging our skin when it's recommended that we get no less than 15 SPF.
You may think that tan skin is beautiful, but it's time to change your thinking. If we all realized what tan skin really meant, we'd all have healthier skin.
3. Skin Cancer
OK, so nothing has deterred you yet; what about cancer?
Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is a real risk you face when getting excess UV rays. Strong evidence points to the fact that UVA and UVB rays can cause skin cancer. In fact, the FDA announced that if you tan in tanning booths before age 30, your risk of skin cancer goes up by 75%!
While Melanoma is almost always curable when found early, you're still looking at surgery to remove the area and perhaps chemotherapy as well. And let's not forget that not everyone will win their battle with melanoma.
Enough said.
4. Pre-Cancer
Actinic or Solar Keratoses is the most common form of pre-cancer. More than 5 million Americans are diagnosed with this each year. Chemical peels or liquid nitrogen are commonly used to remove the scaly raised bumps, but if left, they can turn into full blown skin cancer.
5. Premature Aging
Funny enough, most people who tan do so to look younger. What they fail to realize is that they are making themselves age quicker. Tan skin is nothing more than skin damage.
Do young people have age spots? What about wrinkles? Women and men will do anything we can to reverse the years as long as they can. One easy way to do so is to step away from the tanning salon. Sadly, damage from the sun can take years to show up. It's best to just stop now. You'll thank me in ten years.
6. Eye Damage
Have you heard of Cataracts? It's a form of blindness that may be brought on by UV exposure. Surgery is a treatment, but not a guaranteed fix. Did you know that your cornea can get a sunburn? What about cancer around your eyes? These are all made possible by tanning.
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