By Fernando Jaen
Editor’s note – This is the second of a two-part series on the effects of tanning.
Having discussed the benefits of tanning, it is now time to delve deeper into the more controversial end of the issue: the dangers of tanning.
Several health organizations firmly oppose indoor tanning. The American Academy of Dermatology Association has consistently contested the use of indoor tanning, as seen on their Web site, http://www.aad.org.
Not only that, but the American Medical Association has gone even further by calling for a total ban of tanning equipment for non-medical purposes. The Food and Drug Administration, as well as the Center for Disease Control, also discourage the use of such indoor tanning methods.
Anamae Arias, a junior management major, said, “I enjoy going to the tanning beds; but yes, I am aware of the dangers of tanning. It’s like one of those things you do, regardless of the negative effects. I do, however, take a lot of precautions so that the risk level is lower, like using special tanning lotions, for example.”
The World Health Organization and the United States Department of Health & Human Services opposes indoor tanning because of the dangers that it could cause, especially to the teen crowd. Stated on the AAD Web site, nearly 30 million people tan using tanning beds. Of those, 2.3 million are teens.
Arielle Kauvar, a professor of dermatology in New York University’s School of Medicines said, “While [indoor tanning] produces a temporary cosmetic effect, it can cause long-term health problems,” adding that the most preventable cause of skin cancer is the overexposure to ultraviolet radiation.
A fact sheet released by the AADA on their Web site, titled “Darker Side of Tanning,” alleges, “UVA rays have a suspected link to melanoma, and like UVB rays, they also may be linked to immune system damage and premature skin aging.”
Josh Frager, a senior communication and psychology major, said indoor tanning is “terrible for your skin, you should be able to go outside and enjoy.”
People should not tan because “by the time you’re 60 years old, you’ll have alligator purse skin,” Frager said.
The Skin Cancer foundation also attributes melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers to improper tanning. Several studies prove tanning salons to exceed the “safe” limits of UVA rays, which are carcinogens in the first place. They recommend alternatives such as tanning creams and sprays.
