Should Tanning Salons be

responsible for Skin Cancer

By: Megan Foster

Many people think that tanning beds are not harmful, but the research proves that

they are.

Tanning beds are used for a quick and convenient way to get a darker skin

tone.

Indoor UV tanners are 74% more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors.

In 2010 the indoor tanning industries

revenue is estimated to be 26

billion dollars.

The FDA estimates that they’re 3,000 hospital ER cases

a year due to indoor tanning.

Nearly 70% of tanning salon patrons are

Caucasian girls and women, age 16 to

29.

Nearly 1 million people tan in the US each day.

Although most of these are women, there is a small number of male tanners

10 minutes in a tanning bed matches the cancer causing effects of 10 m ins in Mediterranean summer sun.

Frequent tanners may receive as much as 12 times the annual UVA dose compared to does from the sun exposure

There is now a 10% tax on tanning

This is expected to generate 2.7 billion dollars over ten years.

Skin cancer is the main reason tanning in tanning beds is discouraged.

10,500 people were estimated to die from skin cancer in 2005.

WHO (World Health Organization)recommends that minors shouldn’t use indoor tanning equipment, because of the risk of developing skin cancer.

17 year old Katie Donnar knows first hand about the risk of tanning beds.

She continued tanning and increasing the

amount of times per week throughout high

school.

Katie tried tanning for the first time in sixth grade. She felt that

this might help her fit in m ore on the

cheerleading squad.

During the summer she noticed a mole on her leg

and started being concerned. Later on her family doctor noticed the mole and immediately got

it removed.

A few days later she found out she had

malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of

skin cancer.

She eventually had to get an inch of flesh, a

half a centimeter deep, where the mole had previously been.

Katie is still at risk of developing skin cancer

again. She now only spray tans and tries to make others aware of the risks of tanning.

There are safe alternatives to get a darker skin tone.

Use tanning lotions

Sunless tanning lotion.

If used correctly you can obtain a darker skin tone by applying these lotions.

Spray tanning

This can help protect your skin from some of the harmful aspects

of tanning.

Use tanning lotions