“The UV is eight! Let’s go tanning!” As the weather warms, teens flock outside, armed with bikinis and tanning oil. Or, they run to the tanning beds, hoping to glow before prom. A bronze complexion is all the rage amongst teen girls today. But what are the real effects of constant UV exposure?
Fake tans, spray tans, and suntans are all methods utilized in bronzing the skin. Though they all have their risks suntanning is the basic, age-old method. When you are exposed to UV radiation (the sun), your skin is harmed. This leads to the production of melanin to deepen the skin tone and protect it from additional damage. According to the FDA, there is no such thing as a safe tan. So, going outside in the summer without using sunscreen is asking for trouble, especially if you are using tanning oils. The oils cause the melanin to produce at a faster rate, leading to a quicker tan. As a result, the skin obtains a greater amount of damage. Some of the more serious consequences of tanning include skin cancer, premature aging (wrinkles), actinic keratosis, and eye damage.
Fake tanning, or going to tanning beds, has similar effects to suntanning, but it can have a much higher dosage of UV rays. In tanning beds, you lie or stand in an enclosed space surrounded by lamps that emit UVA rays. UVA rays, also known as “tanning rays”, are the least damaging of the UV ray types. But don’t be fooled, they can still lead to melanoma, skin aging, and eye damage. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more people develop skin cancer because of tanning beds than develop lung cancer because of smoking. This is why checking your body for unusual marks and wearing eye protection is vital if you go to tanning beds.
Spray and self-tans are the safest tanning options. When spray tanning, a mixture is hosed onto your body that reacts with proteins found in skin cells. It can take up to four hours to begin seeing your tan, and it is only a pigment. As a result, spray tans can fade in as little as five days. In addition, the active ingredient in spray tans, dihydroxyacetone or DHA, is an FDA-approved sugar compound, but it is only approved for external use. If you plan on spray tanning, ensure all sensitive areas containing mucous membranes are covered up (e.g., eyes, nose). Self-tanners are also DHA mixtures that contain the same internal risk as spray tans. Though they usually come in the form of a lotion and are much less messy, they last about as long as spray tans and need to be regularly redone. But these are the two least dangerous tanning methods, so the trouble is worth it if you really want that summery glow.
Teenagers tend to disregard information that says their actions could endanger their health. I don’t believe that this article will prevent readers from tanning, so if you decide to, make sure to wear sunscreen with an SPF of thirty or higher. If your tanning oil doesn’t include sunscreen, put some on before applying the oil. And don’t be afraid of enjoying the sun, frolic all you want, just ensure to use your sun protection!
