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To tan
or not to tan? A look at the risks and benefits associated with tanning story.carriesandstrom photo.macyegeland
Entering the room, she turns and quickly locks the door behind her. Then she strips off pieces of clothing, changing into a tiny string bikini. Finished, she sits down on the acrylic surface, swinging her feet up onto it. Putting in her headphones, she reclines and grabs the lip on the lid of the tanning bed. She pulls it shut and prepares to be bronzed. Summer’s on its way and everywhere teens are eager to get outside and enjoy the summer sun. They’ll go to the river or pool, hang out with friends and get a great tan; but some students are getting a head start by heading to the tanning beds. “I just want some color,” Century High School sophomore Sierra Kreft said. Kreft bought a month long tanning package to get ready for summer and she’ll go every two or three days for the duration of the package. What teens don’t know is that even very moderate tanning can have future repercussions. According to dermatologists, negative effects of tanning include: premature dry skin, skin wrinkling and brown spots, possible wart transmission, and the most severe risk- cancer. Tanning in a tanning bed, even occasionally, as a teenager increases the risk of developing a malignant melanoma later in life by 70 percent. “[Tanning beds] should be outlawed,” American Board of Dermatology certified dermatologist William Cornatzer said. Cornatzer has been a dermatologist for 25 years, and thoroughly opposes tanning bed use. Tanning beds were originally developed by dermatologists, who thought it would be healthier for people to tan in a tanning bed before summertime or before going on vacation as opposed to burning, but Cornatzer is adamant that dermatologists now know this philosophy is flawed. “Tanning beds are basically a form of radiation,” Cornatzer said. Tanning beds work by utilizing special light bulbs that produce both UVA and UVB rays. The UVB rays are the rays that cause burning while UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin levels and when coupled with low levels of UVB rays cause the skin to produce a tan. The difference between the two rays is the wave length. While UVB rays are shorter and can lead to forms of skin cancer; UVA rays are longer and more dangerous as they increase UVB rays cancerous effects and can directly cause malignant melanomas which oftentimes can be fatal. In order to minimize the chance of burning, tanning beds reduce the level of UVB rays used and increase UVA rays, this also increases the cancer potential. This means there is a greater probability of getting cancer from a tanning bed. “Neither is safe,” Cornatzer said. “But the tanning bed is significantly riskier.” However, New Image Tanning owner Greg Weimer argues that tanning beds are not solely responsible for skin cancer. “It’s more genetic than anything else,” Weimer said. “A vast majority of
people with skin cancer never slept under a tanning bed.” Weimer says tanning and tanning beds are not all bad; there are several benefits to tanning. Tanning is a great source of vitamin D, which helps with immunity, bone and tooth strength, and to fight against depression, in addition to other health benefits. One 20 minute tanning session provides the equivalent of 100 glasses of milk with vitamin D. The recommend amount of vitamin D for people under 50 is 200 IU, but most experts say a more accurate recommendation is 1,000 IU per day. Tanning, depending on one’s skin tone, provides anywhere from 4,000-10,000 IU per 20 minute session. Tanning can also help with certain skin conditions, asthma and even a few forms of cancer. Weimer has been tanning once or twice a week since the late ‘70s when tanning beds became popular. He says it makes his skin feel better and helps with his asthma. “I feel better after I get in and take a tanning session,” Weimer said. This is a feeling that is echoed by Century junior Shelby Svihovek. Svihovek has been tanning since the winter of her sophomore year and says she finds it enjoyable and relaxing. “At first I did it to get a base tan,” Svihovek said. “Now I do it because I don’t like to be white.” Svihovek tans three to four times a week for 20 minute sessions, and says she doesn’t worry about the consequences. “I don’t have any of the signs of anything,” Svihovek said. However, some teens take the opposite view on tanning and say they would never do it. “I don’t tan because I don’t like to be fake,” Century senior Chelsey Krecklau said. “I don’t want to have skin cancer someday; that would be scary.” While going tanning is not a guarantee one will get cancer or suffer any of the other possible negative effects, the safest course of action is to use protection against UV exposure. Dermatologists recommend using the highest SPF sunscreen available and to look for one that contains helioplex or some other ingredient that will protect against UVA rays and well as UVB rays. Also, wear protective clothing if exposed to the sun for long periods of time. What about teens who still want that bronzed look? Other options are available, such as lotions containing bronzers, which are available at retail stores and tanning salons; self-tanners also come in spray, cream and gel form. “If [teens] want to look tan they should learn how to do spray tans,” Cornatzer said. Whichever option teens choose to take, be it tanning indoors, outdoors, using self-tanners, or simply remaining white, the most important thing it to be informed about the risks and benefits, and to take it slow. “Whatever you do, you want to do in moderation,” Weimer said.v
century.highschoolmedia.org / May 2010 / STAR 13